The Federal Highway Administration today announced the immediate availability of $2 million in Emergency Relief program funds to help begin repairs on flood-damaged roads and bridges in Michigan.
“The Upper Peninsula of Michigan experienced considerable damage to roads and bridges as the result of heavy rainfall and flooding that these quick release funds will help address,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. “The funding represents the first installment of funds to the state to ensure all necessary repairs are completed as quickly as possible.”
On June 17, 2018, heavy rainfall caused flooding in Gogebic, Houghton, and Menominee Counties in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Areas of the affected counties received as much as 7 to 10 inches of rain in a matter of hours that caused extreme runoff and flooding. Significant damage to state and local federal-aid routes resulted, including several bridge and culvert washouts.
The $2 million in “quick release” funding will be used to restore essential traffic for local communities.
This initial “quick release” payment is considered a down payment on the costs of short-term repairs while the state continues damage assessments for long-term repairs. The FHWA’s ER program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.
