U.S. announces funds for flood-damaged roads

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced the immediate availability of $1 million in Emergency Relief funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) cover the costs of repairing federal-aid roads recently damaged by floods and torrential rains throughout the state.

“We are aware of Oklahoma’s ongoing need to repair damage caused by recent rains and flooding,” said Secretary Foxx. “The funding provided today is the first step toward the recovery process.” State officials continue to assess the damage as the waters recede in the 77 counties affected by the flooding.

The emergency funds provided today represent the first installment toward repairs to federal-aid highways and will be used for landslide damage to three major highways in the state – US-271 south of Clayton, SH-1 in LeFlore County, and SH-82 in Haskell County.

“We’re working closely with ODOT to ensure it has the needed resources to make repairs as quickly as possible,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau.  “Emergency relief funds will make it possible to jump start repairs on key highways.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

Funds from FHWA’s Emergency Relief Program will reimburse the state for emergency work done in the immediate aftermath of the weather event. FHWA’s Emergency Relief program provides funds for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.