The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the US has announced the official completion of $647m I-215 North Corridor widening project.

Access to the west side of I-215 has been improved, as well as overall mobility through the city of San Bernardino, in addition creating jobs in an area that was hit by the economic downturn.

Federal Highway deputy administrator Greg Nadeau said: "The new I-215 set the stage for growth, created economic opportunity and helped Southern Californians get back to work.

"San Bernardino residents can travel on a better road and get safely from one part of town to another without a freeway separating them, and with fewer delays."

"This project will rejuvenate a community."

The I-215 North Corridor widening project, which started in 2007, has been completed in four phases.

It involved bridge replacement and road widening work along the southern end of the I-215 corridor in downtown San Bernardino, and added two freeway lanes in each direction for more than seven miles, along with direct connectors at the State Route 210 interchange.

The scheme also included reconstruction of seven local street interchanges, widened existing freeway under-crossing structures, improved several local streets and re-configured I-215 in order to reconnect two areas of San Bernardino.

The new project is expected to lower traffic congestion along a route where daily driver total will grow from 83,000 today to 130,000 in the coming 20 years.

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said: "This project will rejuvenate a community and connect parts of this city that have been separated for decades.

"It is a great example of how transportation can reduce congestion and strengthen local economies by creating new jobs, improving roads and bringing better mobility."

The project was supported by a funding of $128m through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).