WHEELING, W.Va. -- Nearly $500,000 in grants will help the city of Wheeling expand Heritage Trail.

The city received two grants for Wheeling Heritage Trail expansion projects totaling $472,425.

Governor Joe Manchin, III and the West Virginia Division of Highways awarded the two grants at a ceremony at the Culture Center in Charleston yesterday afternoon. The grants will service two separate projects -- one in South Wheeling and one in East and Center Wheeling.

The Safe Routes to School grant is in the amount of $96,000 and will benefit Wheeling Middle School and Ritchie Elementary School.

The project will provide shared-use bicycle path construction, sidewalk repairs, and pedestrian crosswalks to encourage children to walk or bicycle to and from school.

Safe Routes to School funds support pedestrian and bicycle safety education, Walk-To-School events that encourage walking to school, enforcement of proper driver, pedestrian and bicyclist behaviors in the vicinity of schools.

A Transportation Enhancement Grant, in the amount of $376, 425, will provide funding for the first phase plan which will supply connections between the Ohio River Trail and the Wheeling Creek Trail. The funding will allow for the construction of a 1.4-mile ramp to connect Wheeling Heritage Trail at Tunnel Green as well as connect the trail systems.

The project will also provide new alternative transportation routes such as for students at West Virginia Northern Community College accessing campus and Wheeling Jesuit Students accessing downtown businesses.