A report on how states are using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds is in Engineering News Record today.

In the Midwest, Missouri was one of the first ready-to-go states, starting four projects on the day President Obama signed ARRA into law. Missouri DOT says more than 200 other projects are shovel-ready. Illinois also is moving rapidly, letting almost $700 million of projects in April, with work expected to start in May or June.

MoDOT says construction on three other recovery act projects also started immediately:

New passing lanes on Route 60 in Barry, Lawrence, Christian and Greene counties

Resurfacing on Interstate 35 in Clinton County

Improving pavement on Interstate 55 in Pemiscot and New Madrid counties

Additional Missouri road, bridge, air, rail, transit, pedestrian and bicycle projects will be under way in the coming weeks and months. For details, visit the MoDOT website.