The first year of the US state Missouri’s five-year highway construction programme, which will see US$1.3bn in investment, has been approved by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

The five-year transportation improvement programme lists all transportation projects designed by the state and regional planning agencies for the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014.

The programme, set to start in 2010, includes a bridge improvement programme and the work on new Mississippi River Bridge in St. Louis.

The project includes all transportation improvements identified by metropolitan planning organisations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and St. Joseph.