The Texas Transportation Commission in the US has approved distribution of $3bn to address congested highways, rehabilitate bridges and upgrade connectivity between the state’s metropolitan areas.

As per the Proposition 12 bond funding, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will receive $1.4bn for its 25 districts, while the 25 metropolitan planning organisations (MPOs) will get $600m.

About $500m will be given for bridges and $300m to begin developing projects to mitigate congestion in the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio regions, as well as $200m for statewide highway connectivity improvements.

The funds will be utilised for replacing bridges crossing the Trinity River on I-30 and I-35E and the connecting roadways converging near downtown Dallas’s central business district.

It will also be used for last final expansion project between San Antonio and Hillsboro in Temple, as well as to improve 35 main lanes, bridges and ramps in Austin and San Antonio.

The $3bn funding is a part of the balance $5bn in general obligation bonding authority approved by voters and first authorised by the Texas Legislature in 2007.

The construction contracts for the Proposition 12-funded projects will commence in mid 2012 and mid 2013.