Six states to benefit from DOT emergency relief funds

The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $11.5 million in emergency relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help six states cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by a variety of natural disasters in the last year.

“Communities across the country are recovering from disasters that have damaged the roads they rely on to get around,” says Ray LaHood, secretary of transportation. “We are doing everything we can to reimburse communities for the work they have done to restore highway operations and other transportation needs.”

The relief funds will reimburse California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Oregon and Washington for repairs made to roads and bridges that were damaged by flooding, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

California will receive $3.8 million for costs associated with repairing roads in and around San Mateo County damaged during the heavy rains in December 2012. Florida will receive nearly $2 million for costs associated with repairs to roads and bridges in Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties damaged by Tropical Storm Isaac last August.