The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) this week announced the immediate availability of $5 million in emergency relief (ER) funds to help the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development make repairs to roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Ida.
Hurricane Ida made initial landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2021, as a Category 4 storm. Louisiana continued to experience high winds, storm surge, and heavy rain. Significant flooding caused damage to highway and bridge infrastructure in more than 25 parishes throughout the state, according to a press release from FHWA.
The quick release funds will be used to fund emergency repairs to federal-aid highways. The work will consist of stabilizing impacted roadway embankments, repairing and rebuilding damaged roads and bridges—including bridge scour—and replacing destroyed signage.
“FHWA will continue to work with Louisiana to provide technical assistance along with the necessary financial resources to make repairs promptly throughout the state and restore vital transportation links,” Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said in a statement.
FHWA says additional funds from the Emergency Relief program may be available later to continue repairs to roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Ida.
Reports over the last week have indicated that Hurricane Ida has caused major infrastructure damage in multiple states—including in Mississippi, where a highway collapsed as a result of the storm, killing two people and injuring 10.
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SOURCE: FHWA | The Guardian
