Transportation Secretary Slater Announces $2.5 Million in Emergency Relief Funds For Flood-Damaged Roads in West Virginia

Topics:  Rodney E. Slater

Federal Highway Administration
December 3, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 3, 1998
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 62-98

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced that West Virginia will receive $2.5 million in emergency relief funds for repairs on eligible federal-aid roads damaged by heavy rains and flash flooding that began on June 26, 1998.

"President Clinton and I recognize the damage that West Virginia suffered," Secretary Slater said. "We are particularly concerned about the damage to roads because safe, efficient transportation is vital to the daily lives of West Virginia residents and visitors and also to the state’s economy."

The $2.5 million, which comes from the department’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), was provided in response to the state’s request for help to repair federal-aid roads. The funding will permit emergency relief funds to be used for work necessary to repair damage to eligible roads in the counties of Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Ritche, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood.

FHWA funds are awarded after the President or the governor issues a formal emergency proclamation and the state has filed a preliminary damage assessment for its highways and bridges on the federal-aid system. FHWA will reimburse the state for emergency work that is already completed and provides funding for other necessary repairs to correct major or unusual damage to federal-aid highways.

Eligible repair work includes reconstructing damaged bridges and pavement surfaces, establishing detours, removing slides and debris, and replacing signs, lighting and guardrails.