The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has received grants of over $363m, under the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II, to fund state highway projects, aimed at improving safety, reducing congestion and maintaining roads and bridges.

The grants will be made available for highway improvements, interstate rehabilitation, reconstruction, installation of technologies and other undertaking for the safety of the users.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said investments in transportation projects like these create jobs right away in communities across the country and lay a foundation for future economic growth.

"Thanks to these grants, states, cities and local communities can move forward with the transportation projects Americans need to reach their destinations more safely, quickly and efficiently," LaHood added.

The FHWA invited application from all the 50 states of the country, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., cities, tribal governments and local planning organisations for the federal funding from 12 grant programmes.

The agency received almost 1,500 applications, which totalled $2.5bn.

"Investments in transportation projects like these create jobs right away in communities across the country and lay a foundation for future economic growth."

FHWA administrator Victor Mendez said: "The demand for these funds demonstrates a clear need for increased infrastructure investment."

The 12-grant programmes include public lands highway, interstate maintenance, transportation, community and system preservation, ferry boat, national scenic byways, value pricing pilot, highways for life and national historic covered bridge preservation.

The programmes also cover railway-highway crossing hazard elimination in high speed rail corridor, delta region transportation development, innovative bridge research and deployment, and truck parking facilities.

The FHWA is an agency within the US Department of Transportation that supports state and local governments in designing, constructing and maintaining the country’s highway system, as well as various federally and tribal-owned lands.