US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Puerto Rico’s Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla and other territorial officials have broken ground on a PR 18/21 improvements project in San Juan.

The $16.1m project, which will receive $14.5m in federal funding, is being established in Puerto Rico’s busiest north-south corridor.

It is expected to improve traffic flow on one of Puerto Rico’s key economic arteries and improve safety along a route with a history of crashes.

Mr Foxx said: "Improving one of San Juan’s busiest interstates is good news for the entire island, and will help grow jobs and businesses.

"We need Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill so we can continue investing in projects like this one to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion and create ‘ladders of opportunity’ for thousands."

The PR18/21 project will also improve access to and from the Centro Medico complex, a key medical facility that serves thousands of residents of Puerto Rico and nearby Caribbean islands.

"The project is expected to be completed in 2016."

It will also offer better access for drivers and pedestrians to the Centro Medico Tren Urbano mass transit station and the planned ‘Science City’ east of PR-18.

The project is expected to be completed in 2016.

Deputy federal highway administrator Gregory Nadeau said: "Cutting commuter time, improving roadway safety and giving new life to an aging interstate are this project’s obvious benefits.

"But just as important are the economic benefits that transportation investments like this one will make for all of Puerto Rico."

The project will support thousands of jobs by reinforcing the growth of Centro Medico and Science City, and will inject $560m to Puerto Rico’s economy, according to the Puerto Rico Highways and Transit Authority,

It will also help support existing land use and promote other modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling and Tren Urbano ridership.

Recently, the Obama Administration unveiled the Grow America Act, which is said to be a $302bn, four-year national vision for an aging transportation network and a growing population.