Oregon Getting Emergency FHWA Funding to Speed Repairs
"We want to help Oregon begin the repairs needed to get traffic back to normal throughout a dozen of its western counties," said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. "These ER funds are just a down payment on what we know will be additional resources to help restore traffic across the Beaver State."
The Federal Highway Administration has awarded Oregon $1 Million in "quick release" emergency relief funds to accelerate emergency repairs for roads and bridges damaged by months of wildfires. FHWA officials announced the money is available immediately.
"We want to help Oregon begin the repairs needed to get traffic back to normal throughout a dozen of its western counties," said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. "These ER funds are just a down payment on what we know will be additional resources to help restore traffic across the Beaver State."
The agency cited at least six wildfires that have significantly impacted Oregon's transportation system, including the Eagle Creek Fire, which closed several miles of I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge two weeks ago, with much of that segment still closed because of fire danger and ongoing emergency work to perform hazard tree removal and rock scaling.
The new funding will make it possible for workers to being repairs more quickly torestore essential traffic throughout Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Lane, Linn, Marion, and Multnomah Counties.
FHWA's ER program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.