U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta recently announced that $98.9 million in emergency relief funds will be provided to 23 states, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and Guam to repair federal-aid roads that have been damaged as a result of flooding, storms and other natural disasters. Also included are relief funds for several disasters that damaged roads on federal lands around the country.

“Helping states after an emergency is an important responsibility of the federal government,” Mineta said. “By restoring damaged roadways, we can help local communities to fully recover from natural disasters, and that’s why we’re doing what we can to help these states and territories complete the restoration process.”

The $98.9 million in emergency relief funds, which are administered by the department’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), was provided in response to requests from states and other jurisdictions for help to repair federal-aid roads and bridges. FHWA division administrators in each state work closely with state and local officials to assess damage and review funding requests. FHWA money is awarded after the president or the governor issues a formal emergency proclamation and the state files a preliminary damage assessment for its highways and bridges on the federal-aid system.

The funds reimburse the state for the damage repair work that is already completed and provides funding for the remaining damage repair work to correct major or unusual damage to federal-aid highways.

Eligible repair work includes reconstructing damaged bridges and pavement surfaces, establishing detours, removing slides and debris, and replacing signs, lighting and guardrails.

The following states in the Northeast region will receive 2003 emergency relief funds:

New Jersey

Event: June 22, 2001, I-80 Truck Fire

Amount: $1,406,000

Event: August 2000 Flood

Amount: $4,871,000

State Total: $6,277,000

New York

Event: December 2000 Flood

Amount: $166,000

State Total: $166,000

Pennsylvania

Event: June 2001 Flood

Amount: $610,000

State Total: $610,000

Virginia

Event: July 2001 Flood

Amount: $367,000

State Total: $367,000

West Virginia

Event: July 2001 Flood

Amount: $1,264,000

Event: May 2002 Flood

Amount:$ 4,395,000

State Total: $5,659,000

Region Total: $25,129,000

FLH Management

Agencies

Various events

Amount: $12,050,000

Total: $12,050,000.

Today's top stories

Reconstruction of Frank J. Wood Bridge in Maine Under Way

Buffalo Looks to Improve, Protect Ralph Wilson Park

Webuild Ready to Rebuild Collapsed Baltimore Bridge

Make Eliminating Jobsite Distractions Company Safety Goal

VIDEO: Komatsu Holds Demo Days at Cartersville Customer Center

RMS Rentals Welcomes Guests to Open House in Savage, Minnesota

Mixed-Use Project in SW Philadelphia's Africatown to Soon Begin Construction

Mecalac Offers Telescopic Wheel Loader to Improve Stability, Mobility in Material Handling Applications