Pennsylvania gets $1 million in emergency relief funds to repair roads, bridges

Updated Nov 7, 2016

flooding cars highway street floodThe Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has made available $1 million in emergency relief funds to help with repairs to roads and bridges in Pennsylvania damaged by recent flooding.

Highways and bridges in Lycoming, Sullivan, Clearfield, Centre and Bradford counties were damaged during flooding after heavy rain October 20-21. Roadways affected include Pennsylvania 973, Pennsylvania 87 and Pennsylvania 154.

“The flooding has caused significant damage to roads and bridges in central part of the state and Pennsylvanians are just beginning to pick up the pieces,” says Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx. “This funding will help expedite the recovery process.”

FHWA’s emergency relief program provides “quick release” funds for highways and bridges damaged by catastrophic events or natural disasters to help start repair work and to help agencies make continuing damage assessments.

The program is authorized for $100 million annually through contact authority from the Highway Trust Fund’s Highway Account, but Congress can appropriate more when needed. For example, $410 million was released last December for road and bridge repair projects in 33 states.

The FAST Act continued the $100 million annual funding authorization for fiscal years 2016-2020.