Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced $21.7 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to assist in recovery efforts from severe storms and flooding that devastated many roads, highways, and communities throughout Oregon in 2020 and 2021.
“From the February 6, 2020 storm that hit Northeast Oregon, to the torrential rains and severe flooding we experienced earlier this year, our communities still need support covering the costs of essential repairs to roads and highways,” said Merkley. “I am glad Oregon is receiving these necessary and important funds to help rebuild critical means of transportation and reconnect communities throughout Oregon.”
“These federal resources are essential to help communities in Northeast Oregon and many others statewide recover and rebound from the destructive rains and floods that proved so devastating last year and this year,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified these grants are coming to our state in the ongoing work to repair roads and highways that Oregonians need for safe travel and a solid economy.”
The nearly $22 million in combined grants from DOT comes from an Emergency Relief (ER) program administered through the Federal Highway Administration. The program is dedicated to the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways and roads that may have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters and or catastrophic failures from an external cause. These funds are intended to protect existing roadways, and to restore and repair roads and highways to its pre-disaster condition.
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