DENVER - Gov. Bill Ritter, D-Colo., has issued the following news release:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter broke ground on Colorado's largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project to date, a $32 million C-470 highway and bike path project.

The project will give drivers and bicyclists a smoother trip, offer more transportation options, and help put people back to work.

"This project is helping to put the Denver region on the road to economic recovery," said Secretary LaHood. "The C-470 project is a great example of metro Denver's commitment to reducing highway congestion while also improving a very popular bike path that connects parks all over the area. When I talk about investing in livable communities across America, this is exactly what I mean."