The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently made available $10 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to help offset the cost of repairing infrastructure damaged by flooding.
The Emergency Relief program provides states, territories, tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies with funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.
“The Federal Highway Administration is working closely with VTrans to provide the necessary resources to restore essential transportation links,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “The quick release funding we are providing will help get those repairs done as soon as possible so people can get back to their daily lives.”
On July 7, flash flooding and river flooding began in much of Vermont and continued for weeks. The worst damage occurred on July 10 and 11 when three to nine inches were measured statewide over the 48-hour period. President Biden approved an emergency declaration for Vermont on July 11.
Damage included roads and bridges that were washed out and land and mudslides.
VTrans will use the funding to help cover the cost of repairing damaged roadways and structures, clearing mud and rockslides, clearing material deposited by floodwaters, repairing and replacing guardrails, repairing culverts and eroded shoulders, and opening plugged culverts.