Efforts to repair damaged roads and bridges in the U.S. Virgin Islands advanced on Tuesday with the release of an additional $6.5 million in Emergency Relief (ER) funds by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the $6.5 million in “quick release” funds will supplement $8 million in ER funds made available in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“The work continues to rebuild broken transportation links in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye Hendrickson said. “These additional funds will help ensure residents can travel safely.”
A majority of the quick release funds will support the restoration of traffic signals on St. Thomas and St. Croix islands, in addition to repairs to storm damage at critical intersections.
Each year, Congress authorizes $100 million for the FHWA ER program. Quick release funds are deployed to immediately repair storm-damaged highways and bridges so that long-term repair work can move forward more quickly.
Individual states and territories are responsible for applying for ER fund assistance. U.S. territories cannot account for more than $20 million of total ER obligations in any given fiscal year.