FHWA 28-15 Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Contact: Nancy Singer (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced the immediate availability of $5 million in Emergency Relief funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) cover the costs of repairing federal-aid roads damaged by rainstorms.

"These funds are vital to helping the people of West Virginia and other states hurt by storms of this magnitude," said Secretary Foxx. "We are doing everything we can to help ensure damaged roads and bridges are repaired quickly, so life can return to normal as soon as possible in the affected areas."

West Virginia experienced a series of heavy rainstorms and flooding in early March that caused widespread damage to the highway system. Significant damage was reported in more than half of the state's 55 counties, including a series of major landslides along US 52 in Wayne County – a major coal transportation corridor linking southern West Virginia coal to port facilities along the Big Sandy River.

State officials estimate the damage at nearly $15 million. Federal emergency relief funds will be used to fund repairs to damaged culverts and pavement, and other such work, to approximately 150 locations around the state.

"We are committed to getting these damaged roads back to normal as quickly as possible," said FHWA Deputy Administrator Gregory Nadeau. "Whenever storms cause such devastation, the FHWA works closely with the state to ensure repairs are made and roads are reopened to traffic."

FHWA's Emergency Relief program funds reimburse the state for emergency work done in the aftermath of damaging storms or other catastrophic events. The agency will provide additional funds as permanent repairs are identified and cost estimates are completed.

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