FHWA Provides $6.5 Million to Virgin Islands for Road and Bridge Repairs After Hurricanes
The agency on Jan. 16 announced it is making $6.5 million in "quick release" Emergency Relief funds for further repairs to hurricane-damaged roads and bridges throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced Jan. 16 it is making $6.5 million in "quick release" Emergency Relief (ER) funds immediately available for further repairs to hurricane-damaged roads and bridges throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The additional funding brings the total amount of funding for emergency work to $14.5 million, including $8 million in ER funds previously made available to the U.S. Virgin Islands for damage from Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Most of the funds provided in the latest round will be used to make repairs to damaged intersections critical to highway safety and to restore traffic signal service on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix.
"The work continues to rebuild broken transportation links in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria," said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. "These additional funds will help ensure residents can travel safely."
FHWA's ER program provides funding for bridges and highways damaged in catastrophic events of by natural disasters. These "quick release" payments to the U.S. Virgin Islands are considered as initial installments of funds used to restore necessary traffic and limit further damage to highways, which can help accelerate the start of long-term repair work.