NEW YORK — President Obama signed legislation Friday extending transportation funding for three months, one day ahead of the March 31 deadline.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate pulled together a last-minute deal after several delays in the House (AMM, March 30).

Steel interests said the short-term extension—the ninth since 2009—should be viewed as an opportunity to provide more time to get bipartisan support for a longer-term solution.

"We’re strongly advocating for a multiyear bill at the highest level of funding possible because it’ll not only fix our crumbling infrastructure but also drive our economic recovery and put Americans back to work," the American Iron and Steel Institute said. Helping certain lagging areas in the construction sector—including highway, bridge and water infrastructure building—will help stimulate steel demand, it added.