State Sen. Frederick Berry sent a letter to the governor Thursday urging him to approve building a new Route 128 overpass in Beverly and new parking garages at the Beverly Depot and Salem commuter rail stations.

The three projects are included in a $2.5 billion transportation bond bill sent to Gov. Mitt Romney's desk on July 31. The bill, a wish list of projects the Legislature wants the state to fund, sets aside $15 million for the overpass, $24 million for the Salem garage and $11 million for the Beverly garage.

Berry's letter is an attempt to keep the governor's veto pen from knocking the local projects off the list. He said the projects are in line with Romney's "smart growth" initiative to help communities avoid sprawl by adding transportation options in downtown areas.

"These are the kinds of projects he says he wants to build," the Peabody Democrat said. "I'm just reminding him that they are consistent with his plans."

Berry said the Route 128 overpass at Brimbal Avenue is needed to alleviate traffic congestion and "open up real possibilities for industrial growth" by opening up partially developed land.

In his letter, Berry told Romney an overpass between Exits 18 and 19 would also increase access to the North Shore Music Theatre, a performance center in the midst of a $60 million campaign to renovate and expand. Berry reminded Romney that the Northeast Regional Competitiveness Council - a group started by the governor to create jobs - identified "cultural tourism" as an economic development cluster for the North Shore.

Berry added a plug for the parking garages at the end of this letter, saying they would encourage commuters to use the MBTA to get to work.

"These projects will also have the added benefit of alleviating traffic and parking congestion and increasing safety on neighborhood streets surrounding the two train stations," he wrote.

Romney has until tomorrow to sign or veto the transportation bond bill.