BOSTON -- Final approval was given Thursday to spend $9 million in federal stimulus money to build an elaborate footbridge connecting parking lots on either side of Route 1 near Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

The measure was passed by a 13-1 vote at a meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional board that decides how to spend federal transportation money.

The state's plan to use federal stimulus funds into the project has raised eyebrows as many asked why the team and its owner can't foot the bill for the project.

If you have ever attended a Patriots game at the stadium, you know that walking from the parking lot to the stadium means crossing over Route 1. It always causes traffic back-ups and the journey can be perilous.

The solution on the table is to build a footbridge, but the question of who's paying for it is raising eyebrows.

The footbridge would be a publicly funded footbridge connecting two privately owned properties, but the cash will come from federal stimulus money.

Since both of the properties belong to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, critics are questioning why he can't foot the bridge bill himself.

In a statement, the Kraft group said it "supports the state's long term economic growth initiatives and is proud to have created thousands of jobs."

Construction on the footbridge could begin as early as next spring.