The state, any of its departments, boards, bureaus, or commissions, by and with the approval of the governor, may make loans, or accept advances from the federal government, any agency or instrumentality thereof, for the purpose of aiding in financing the cost of architectural, engineering, and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other actions preliminary to the construction of public works and improvements, and may repay to the federal government, any of its agencies or instrumentalities thereof, such loans or advances at such times as the construction of said public works or improvements so planned are undertaken; and any county, city, park district, school district, and township, may likewise, by action of the governing body of the same, also make such loans and accept such advances and repay the same in the same manner. Such loans made or grants accepted may be made or accepted under such rules and    regulations as the federal government, or any of its agencies or instrumentalities may prescribe. Provided, however, that neither the state, any of its boards, bureaus, departments, or commissions, nor any of the political subdivisions enumerated herein may incur any liability for the payment of such loans or advances unless the actual construction of such public works and improvements is undertaken; and provided, further, that the provisions of this section may not be construed to apply to loans, grants, or advances to the department of transportation made or to be made by the federal government, any agency or instrumentality thereof, or to such loans, grants, or advances made to political subdivisions by the said department of transportation.