Last modified: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:19 AM EDT Gov. Deval Patrick (Staff file photo by Drew Pillsbury) Patrick pushing area stimulus projects BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO - A pedestrian bridge over Route 1 in Foxboro and a reconstruction of North Main Street in Attleboro are among the $165 million in construction projects Gov. Deval Patrick is pushing with the latest round of federal stimulus money. The project needs the approval of regional planning agencies and are aimed at improving transportation and creating jobs. The $9 million pedestrian bridge over Route 1 would link a high technology park proposed by the Kraft Group with Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. It has been sought by the town and the Krafts to improve pedestrian safety and increase accessibility to the developments on opposite sides of Route 1. North Main Street in Attleboro, also known as Route 152, would undergo a $2.8 million reconstruction from Holcott Street to the Bungay River bridge near the Blackinton Inn. The entire length of the street is being rebuilt in phases with the construction of a new intersection at Toner Boulevard recently completed. Patrick is backing a total of 33 new projects across the state in the latest round of fiscal stimulus efforts. "These projects put stimulus money and Massachusetts people to work," Patrick said. "This administration is all about investing in our future, and these funds help." The latest round would bring the total amount of stimulus money spent on Massachusetts construction projects to $438 million. Other projects on Patrick's list include a $3.6 million bike path connector for the Alewife Greenway Corridor, $7.5 million in improvements to Worcester's Canal District, $10 million to support improvements in MBTA bus service and reliability and more than 25 other road projects throughout the state. A key congressman recently criticized the Patrick administration for being slow to spend transportation stimulus money, saying quick action was needed to boost the economy. Patrick, however, said he has taken the approach that the construction projects should be aimed at development, not merely filling potholes. U.S. Reps. James McGovern, D-Worcester, and Barney Frank, D-Newton, praised Patrick for selecting projects in their districts, including the Attleboro and Foxboro projects. "I'm very pleased with these stimulus projects, which will create jobs and improve our communities," McGovern said. "The Route 152 project in Attleboro will help improve traffic flow and public safety."