Senator Collins Announces Nearly $1.5 Million to Cover Costs of Emergency Repairs on Maine Roads Damaged by Storms
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $1,467,830 in grant funding for emergency repairs made to Maine roads and highways damaged by storms in June and December 2023. The funding was awarded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program, which reimburses states for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways and roads that were damaged in natural disasters or catastrophic failures.
“The storms in June and December 2023 caused substantial damages to public infrastructure throughout Maine,” said Senator Collins. “This federal assistance will help to recoup costs incurred by the state during its emergency response in the immediate aftermath of these storms.”
The grant funding is allocated as follows:
- MaineDOT (Franklin County): $1,037,925 to reimburse costs incurred from emergency work resulting from a heavy rainstorm event in June 2023. This work occurred on State Routes 4, 133, 140, and 156 in Jay and Chesterville.
- Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge (Baring): $60,000 to reimburse costs incurred for debris removal during the December 2023 Nor’easter.
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (Wells): $149,196 to reimburse costs incurred for debris removal and rehabilitation of two parking areas during the December 2023 Nor’easter.
- Maine Coastal Islands Complex (Steuben): $220,709 to reimburse costs incurred for rehabilitation of Petit Manan road and parking areas during the December 2023 Nor’easter.
Eligibility for the FHWA Emergency Relief Program is dependent on a presidential or gubernatorial disaster declaration, and it is the responsibility of individual states to request emergency relief funds for assistance in the cost of necessary repair of damaged Federal-aid highways.
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