The city of Abilene, along with Taylor and Jones counties, is getting more than $8.12 million in road improvement funds from state and federal sources.

TxDOT in Abilene will get $4.12 million, and the Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization will receive $3.97 million.

Executive Director E'lisa Smetana of the Abilene MPO, a city transportation planning board, is looking at improving roads such as Antilley Road.

"It's absolutely wonderful; it's enough money that we're going to be able to do some really good projects here and improve the transportation system here in Abilene," Smetana said. "We'll be looking at all the roadways in Abilene, Taylor and Jones County and that also includes the cities of Tye and Impact to see what kind of roadway projects are needed in those areas."

Possible changes could also be frontage roads along Interstate 20 in north Abilene would be changed from two-way to one-way.

This would decrease the number of accidents in congested areas. Improvements are also planned for loop 322.

These additional funds from the state are a first for the Abilene MPO. The MPO board, chaired by Mayor Norm Archibald, will discuss road projects in a meeting open to the public in the Abilene City Council Chambers at 1:30 p.m. on May 21.