Federal economic stimulus money is providing the biggest financial shot in the arm yet to the Roanoke River Greenway.

Some $2 million will be funneled to the project through the Virginia Department of Transportation, said Liz Belcher, coordinator for the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission.

It's the largest single block of funding for the project since its inception. Belcher said plans are for the money to be used for two segments.

The first would be to construct a pedestrian and bicycle bridge -- "always a huge expense item," Belcher said -- over the Roanoke River. It will connect the Tinker Creek Greenway to the Roanoke River Greenway at the Western Virginia Water Authority's wastewater treatment plant in Southeast Roanoke.

A second project would be in Salem between Mill Lane and Eddy Avenue, extending the existing greenway at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex.

Belcher said acquisition of rights of way for those routes is nearly complete, and they were chosen because they can be started quickly and finished well before the three-year deadline for completing projects funded by the federal package.

The two projects will likely not begin construction until 2010, she said, but "this is a big boost to us."

The Roanoke River Greenway is considered the "backbone" and top priority of the larger Roanoke Valley Greenways Commission plan for 35 routes throughout Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County and Vinton.

The river greenway is the longest single one, with five of its planned 30 miles completed. It is described in the greenway plan as the route with the most potential for tourism, health and recreation benefits, and boosting nearby economic development.

The goal for its completion is 2012.

A total of 20 miles of greenways have been constructed throughout the valley so far, Belcher said, with another three to four miles scheduled to be finished in the next three years.

Work is expected to begin this summer on two other stretches of the river greenway. One will be built in front of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The other will extend from Salem's new Colorado Street bridge to Kiwanis Park on Virginia 419.

This latest stimulus funding does come with some "reporting requirements in excess of those normally required" for so-called "enhancement money" from VDOT, Belcher said. Those will include tracking the number of jobs maintained or created by the projects.

"The requirements are not fully known yet, but whatever they are, we will comply with them," she said.