Millions of dollars of stimulus funds are headed to Aiken County to help improve roads and transportation.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has released figures and the specific locations for projects where the money will be spent.

The list ranges from regional mass transit to road paving and was released for public comment so the public can share its two cents on how the billions are spent.

Aiken is a major recipient of this first wave of projects with a total value of $17,215,177.

All of these projects have been selected because they are "shovel ready," meaning they could be started immediately with funding, according to Wayne Rogers with the Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG).

The biggest and highest-funded project will focus on improving the paving of 11 miles of Interstate 20 at a cost of $13 million.

All of the transportation projects have been part of the State Transportation Infrastructure Plan for as much as three years, according to Rogers.

"DOT has determined they can be accomplished very quickly, once the money is obligated," he said.

Unlike other sections in the first stage of stimulus projects, transportation monies are specifically directed to commit at least half of the funding within 120 days.

In general, the funds include $415,000 for remarking the Aiken County stretch of I-20, 13 road projects to the tune of just over $3.6 million and $180,000 for Aiken County mass transit.

The mass transit funds for Aiken will be used to replace older Best Friend Express vehicles, according to Connie Shade, assistant executive director of LSCOG.

One major mass transit project is listed as an Aiken project, but is in name only.

The $3.5 million project will build or renovate a public transport facility for Calhoun and Orangeburg. This is listed as an Aiken project as the funds would be managed by the LSCOG offices in Aiken.

These are the first stage projects because they can be started quickly. Other projects in later phases may still need the acquisition of right-of-ways and other, possibly lengthy issues that could delay projects from starting.

These second-phase projects include bridge improvement as well as further intersection upgrades and more paving.

2009 Federal Aid Stimulus Package

Allotment - $3,620,177

In order of priority

Repaving

SC 191 0.46 miles in Graniteville

SC 125 0.13 miles Atomic road before intersection with Martindown road North Augusta

SC 126 0.36 miles in Edgefield Road into Belvedere

SC 120 0.65 miles West Bauna Vist Avenue in North Augusta

SC 125 0.66 miles in North Augusta

SC 419 0.65 miles Dougherty Road between Whiskey and Silver Bluff roads

SC 302 0.55 miles Silver Bluff, south of Aiken

SC 19 0.70 miles Edgefield Highway over I-20 exit 18

SC 879 0.65 miles Seymore Drive in North Augusta from Atomic Road to Mae Street

SC 125 0.18 miles and US 25 1.11 miles East Martintown Road and East Buena Vista Avenue from Jefferson Davis Highway to Georgia Avenue

SC 230 1.71 miles Martindown Road from Georgia Avenue to Westobou Crossing

Mass transit

$180,000 to replace older Best Friend Express vehicles.

Pavement Marking

$415,000 Remarking I-20

Interstate Maintenance

$13,000,000 for I-20 between mile marker 22 to 38.