$57 million has been approved to fund projects to fix congested highways and old bridges in the Panhandle.

It's all part of $3 billion approved by the Texas Transportation Commission to rehabilitate bridges, address congested highways and improve connectivity between the state's metropolitan areas.

In the Amarillo District, the money will be used to improve trade connection on the Ports to Plains corridor. That includes U.S. 87, U.S. 277 and State Highway 349.

Additional lanes and overpasses will be built on Loop 337 from I-27 to the Potter County line. The estimated construction cost is $25.5 million and that includes funds contributed by the Amarillo Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Lubbock and Amarillo Districts of TxDOT.

Existing lanes on U.S. 87 in Hartley and Moore Counties will be rebuilt just east of U.S. 385 to the new railroad overpass in Dumas. Passing lanes will also be added. The estimated cost of the project is $20.3 million.

In Dallam County, plans are to rebuild the existing lanes and adding additional passing lanes on U.S. 54 from Dalhart to the Sherman County line. The estimated cost is $6 million.

State Highway 23 from FM 377 to about 11 miles north of U.S. 83 will have the existing roadway widened and rebuilt. $4.1 million is the estimated construction cost.

The commission approved the money distribution Thursday as part of the Proposition 12 bond funding.

"The Legislature has chosen to invest some of the state's limited dollars in transportation infrastructure. We approached this process with a strategy to identify, prioritize and select projects by working closely with local planning organizations, elected officials and the public," said John Barton, TxDOT interim executive director. "This will help to address the greatest needs for mobility, rehabilitation and safety on Texas highways. We intend to deliver impressive results."