Federal Highway Administration Announces $2 Million in Emergency Relief for Flood-Damaged Roads and Bridges in Alabama

Federal Highway Administration
15 January 2016

FHWA 03-16
Friday, January 15, 2016
Contact: Doug Hecox
202-366-0660

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced the immediate availability of $2 million in emergency relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to help repair roads and bridges damaged by heavy rains and flooding last month.

“Emergency relief funding will help Alabama recover from the widespread damage caused by last month’s storm,” said Secretary Foxx. “We understand how important it is to get these roads repaired and reopened so life there can return to normal as soon as possible.”

Storms producing heavy rain in late December caused severe flooding throughout southeastern and northern Alabama. Parts of southwestern Alabama received as much as 20 inches of rain. Statewide damage estimates are still being prepared for roughly 200 damaged sites.

“The people of Alabama should know that the funds provided today are just a down payment on what we know will be many other repairs to the highways that they rely heavily upon,” said Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “As the extent of damage becomes clearer, we won’t hesitate to make additional resources available.”

The state will receive $2 million in initial, or “quick release,” funds to begin the important repair work, to make further damage assessments and begin to restore traffic to normal as the state continues to evaluate its repair needs. Preliminary damages are estimated at around $8 million, though that figure could grow as new information becomes available.

The FHWA's Emergency Relief program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.