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MANCHESTER, N.H. – Federal officials said Manchester was selected to receive $25 million to transform its downtown because of the ingenuity of the city’s proposal.

The funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation were the highest amount possible under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program.

Manchester plans to use the RAISE grant to mitigate traffic congestion, improve biking and walking trails, and add a pedestrian bridge over Granite Street.

“It’s connected to a vision of overall design and mixed-use development, and we’re looking for projects that do that, that link how planning and housing and how development is going to work for the future to transportation, because we should be thinking about those at the same time,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The grant money must be used by 2029.

“The fruits of this project will really be appreciated over the next decade or two,” said Timothy Clougherty, Manchester deputy public works director. “I think it’s a transformational project from an economic development perspective. as well as a transportation connectivity perspective.”

No date has been set for the start of construction.