The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) has announced grant awards for major infrastructure projects in Milan and Springfield, Missouri.

The 55 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants were awarded on a competitive basis and will be used to make investments in surface transportation infrastructure.

They have been awarded to projects with a significant impact in their local or regional communities.

BUILD funding will be used to support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson said: “Transportation drives our economy, and these grants will only continue the progress we’ve made this year to build up Missouri’s infrastructure.

“We appreciate the continued support and hard work of President Trump, Secretary Chao, Senator Blunt, Senator Hawley and the entire congressional delegation to deliver critical infrastructure funding for important projects like these in our state.”

Using the US DOT grants, a variety of road projects, including relocating Highway N to below the East Locust Creek Reservoir dam, will be completed in Milan.

Highway VV to Knob Hill Road will be extended and 4,000ft of safety improvements will be made to intersections and turning lanes on Highway 5.

The grant will also be applied to widening and reinforcing gravel roads around the lake to accommodate the area’s increasing traffic.

Funding from the US DOT will also be used to reconstruct approximately 3.3 miles of a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path on Grant Avenue, starting in Downtown Springfield and ending at Sunshine Street in Springfield.

This project will include bike lanes, a roundabout, two raised intersections, three protected intersections, a grade-separated crossing at Fassnight Creek and bridge improvement.

The grants also include nearly $13.5m for the East Locust Creek Reservoir project in Milan, Missouri, and nearly $21m for the Grant Avenue Parkway project in Springfield, Missouri.