The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDoT) said it will invest $1.3bn in its 2010 state road construction programme.

Of the 283 projects in the programme, 217 are state highway construction projects and 66 non-highway projects.

The non-highway projects range from safety improvements at railroad crossings to new transit facilities.

Among the projects, $150m is expected to be invested in converting Highway 169 at Interstate 494 in the Twin Cities to a freeway to improve traffic flow.

MnDoT commissioner Tom Sorel said the focus of the programme is on improving Minnesota’s highways and maximising the capacity of the system.