The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $1.9 billion in emergency relief funding to help states make critical transportation infrastructure repairs due to natural disasters.
The funding, part of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program, will help states make repairs to roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure damaged by weather-related disasters and other catastrophic events. The funding includes more than $900 million to help repair damage done by Hurricane Helene. FHWA said the recent announcement brings the total FHWA infrastructure commitment for Hurricane Helene damage to $3.4 billion across all of the impacted states, and nearly $3 billion to North Carolina alone.
“As hurricane season begins, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, its essential leaders mobilize quickly to help American families in need,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. “Our roads and bridges are essential infrastructure that keep our local economies moving.”
Officials said the remaining balance of the $1.86 billion emergency package will fund repairs from the 2024 flooding and mudslides in multiple states; as well as from the storms and flooding in Arizona in 2025; and from multiple atmospheric river events in the West, among other disasters.
“The Federal Highway Administration will continue to work closely with states until all damaged roads and bridges are restored,” FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster said. “When transportation links are broken, this causes interruption to people’s lives and our economy – getting them back up and running again is essential.”