U.S. senators voted 62-36 on Wednesday to end debate on a motion to advance a bipartisan highway bill, in spite of several top Democrats voting to filibuster the legislation.

Brian Schatz of Hawaii voted “aye” along with fellow Democrats like Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois.

But Mazie Hirono, Hawaii’s other senator, voted “nay” along with top Democrats like Harry Reid of Nevada and Chuck Schumer of New York.

Cars on the H-1 freeway.

The highway fund, which pays for the nation’s roads, bridges and highways and expires on July 31, “has been plagued by a cycle of short patches, making it difficult for local officials to plan long-term transportation projects that would improve the infrastructure in their states,” says The Huffington Post. “The legislation before the Senate would authorize spending levels for the highway fund for six years, but only shores up money for three of those years.”

Some Democrats and Republicans are upset with the way the bill “scrapes” together funding for the bill, including $16.3 billion from a reduction in a Federal Reserve bank subsidy. The disagreements led to a lengthy logjam … until now.

“The vote caught many senators by surprise,” says Roll Call. “Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore,. were warming up for the Washington Kastles Charity Classic when they got word of the vote. They dropped their racquets and got on the phone and prepared to pack it in and head back to the Capitol.”

Sixty votes were needed to overcome a filibuster. The White House is said to be studying the deal.