U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $460,000 for Emergency Repairs to Infrastructure Destroyed by Wildfires in Washington State

Federal Highway Administration
25 September 2020

FHWA 23-20
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $460,000 in “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) repair damages from recent wildfires. This funding will help the state address urgent repair needs and restore important transportation links for residents.

Washington experienced hot and dry weather conditions leading to multiple ongoing wildfires. Strong winds in early September aggravated the situation, causing one of the quickest and largest wildfire seasons to erupt in the state’s history.

The wildfires destroyed traffic control devices and other highway infrastructure and charred terrain caused slope destabilization and rock crumbling.

These “quick release” funds will make it possible to make immediate repairs to roads and bridges and avert further damage.

FHWA’s ER program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. These “quick release” ER funds are an initial installment of funds used to restore essential traffic and to limit further highway damage, which can help long-term repair work begin more quickly.

More information about FHWA’s ER program can be found online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/erelief.cfm.