The Federal Highway Administration recently issued $1.3 million in Emergency Relief funds to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) as a down payment to offset the cost road and bridge repairs from heavy floods that struck North Central and Northeastern Idaho earlier this year.
[Above photo by the ITD]
That is in addition to the $3 million in “quick release” funds FHWA issued to ITD in July after heavy rains, followed by runoff and flooding, caused significant damage to roads in Nez Perce and Idaho counties in June.
Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) also issued a disaster declaration to assist with flood response and repair efforts.
FHWA noted in a statement that its Emergency Relief program provides funding to states, territories, tribes, and Federal Land Management agencies for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. The agency added that it considers “quick release” Emergency Relief funds as initial installments towards restoring essential transportation links.
So far, in 2022, FHWA said it has issued $73 million in emergency funds to ITD, the Montana Department of Transportation, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service for Yellowstone National Park, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service for Custer Gallatin National Forest, to cover infrastructure repair costs due to flooding.