The Federal Highway Administration is providing the Missouri Department of Transportation $1 million in emergency relief funds for bridge and road repairs damaged following heaving flooding in December.
“Missouri should know that the funds provided today are only an initial installment toward completing all the necessary repairs in the state as the result of this weather event,” says FHWA Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “Additional resources will become available as the state continues to assess the damage.”
Strong storms that began a few days before Christmas caused flooding in the Meramec, Mississippi and Missouri rivers that ultimately closed sections of I-44 and I-55 in St. Louis, followed by closings of I-70 and I-49 in other parts of the state.
The $1 million is a “quick release” of funding to be used for priority repairs, damage assessment and traffic restoration. Full damage costs will be assessed in the coming weeks.