FOXBORO - Construction of a $9 million skyway over Route 1 that would link a development proposed by the Kraft Group with Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium will start this spring, the state says.

But while supporting the use of federal stimulus money for the project, one Foxboro leader is putting the Kraft Group on notice that the touted economic payoff - in the form of a major office park development - had better be real.

"If this funding for a footbridge is not followed by a major project across from the stadium, then it is money misspent," selectmen Chairman Paul Feeney said Thursday. "For now, I will take everyone at their word that they intend to develop the other side of Route 1 in short order."

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization voted 13-1 Thursday to add the walkover to its program for the use of federal stimulus money, said Colin Durrant, a spokeman for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The state will build the pedestrian bridge. The Kraft Group and town officials jointly applied for the grant, saying the purpose of the skyway will be to improve walker safety and open the door to development of a 1.45 million-square-foot office park on the west side of the highway.

The development also would include 150,000 square feet of retail space.

Patriots spokesman Stacy James said the Kraft Group's commitment to the development, and to shouldering its fair share of the costs, is a matter of record.

Over the past 10 years, the Kraft Group has created thousands of jobs by privately investing more than $800 million in the construction of the stadium and Patriot Place, James said in response to Feeney's concerns.

"It is the only development of its kind in the country and the only one to be done without public financing," he said.

"With the designation of Foxboro as one of the state's largest developable growth districts, the federally funded pedestrian bridge, one of 33 projects approved, will help stimulate long-term economic growth and greatly improve public safety in the area along Route 1," James said.

He said the return will be hundreds of millions of dollars in additional private investment in a development that will create approximately 4,000 permanent jobs and 4,500 construction jobs.

Gov. Deval Patrick has said the state's preference is to attract biotechnology to the site.

"Anything we can do to put people to work and bring needed revenue to the town and the area is a plus," Feeney said, adding that he considers the walkover an appropriate use of federal stimulus dollars, so long as the office project goes forward.

"Punting on a major development, now that the taxpayers have invested their own money, should not be an option," he said. "I look forward to seeing a proposal." The Kraft Group has already taken one major step toward approval of the office park.

The proposal was approved on April 17 by the state's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

And last month, the governor included the pedestrian bridge on a list of 33 priority projects, estimated to cost a total of more than $165 million, for funding in the second round of highway investment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization's support was also necessary.

The former Masschusetts Highway Department, which has a new name under the Department of Transportation, will build the 135-foot long, 24-foot wide, elevator-equipped bridge.

"This bridge will make the site more attractive to the companies the governor is trying to attract," James said.