The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in the US, in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), has awarded $18m in grants for seven state highway projects to improve transportation system in the state.

As part of the state’s Transportation Economic Development (TED) Program, three projects in the Twin Cities metro area and four projects in Greater Minnesota will receive the funding.

Overall, MnDOT received nine project proposals in the Twin Cities area, as well as six proposals in Greater Minnesota for a total of $67.6m in requests.

MnDOT commissioner Charlie Zelle said: “Projects proposed under the TED Program offer us an important opportunity to collaborate with our local partners and DEED to help enhance transportation and economic outcomes in Minnesota.

“Those projects selected under this competitive programme best demonstrated the local government’s willingness to invest in the transportation system and the private sector partners’ commitment to job creation.”

“Projects proposed under the TED Program offer us an important opportunity to collaborate with our local partners and DEED to help enhance transportation and economic outcomes in Minnesota.”

The Twin Cities area received a total of $16.5 grant for three projects located at the Anoka County, Brooklyn Park and Carver County.

Anoka County received $5m for the Highway 10/Highway improvement project to address the current safety and mobility issues.

The US Highway 169/101st Avenue North interchange project in the Brooklyn Park received $10m and will involve enhancement of traffic operations, roadway safety and addition of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in a road segment.

The Carver County project, which received a $1.5m grant, will see the reconstruction of the County State Aid Highway 18 (Lyman Boulevard) and Highway 41 intersection in Chaska.

Greater Minnesota secured the remaining $1.5m grant for Pennington County, Dodge County, Duluth and Kittson County projects.