DOT 156-08
Contact: Ian Grossman, Tel.: (202) 366-0660
October 23, 2008
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Announces $679 million
to Repair Damaged Roads and Bridges
GALVESTON – The federal government is making $679 million available immediately
to states across the nation to cover costs incurred to repair roads and bridges
damaged by a variety of natural emergencies and catastrophic events, U.S.
Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today during a visit to
Galveston, Texas.
“When natural disasters strike, restoring transportation is the first stop on
the road to recovery,” Secretary Peters said.
The emergency relief funds will go to 28 states and Puerto Rico to pay for
damages caused by storms, flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters, including
the summer 2008 Midwestern floods and Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. The funds will
be used to reimburse states for fixing or replacing damaged highways and
bridges, establishing detours, removing debris and replacing signs, lighting and
guardrails.
“Transportation is important to communities struggling to return to a normal
routine after a disaster," said FHWA Administrator Thomas Madison.
The funds are part of the 2008 Disaster Relief and Recovery Supplemental
Appropriations Act that provided additional emergency relief funds. Congress
also provides an annual authorization of $100 million for the program each
fiscal year. A state-by-state break down of the emergency relief funds can be
accessed at
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot15608chart.htm.
###