Repairing and Reconstructing Disaster Damaged Roads and Bridges: The Role of Federal-Aid Highway Assistance

Publication Date: September 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Transportation

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Abstract:

When Hurricane Katrina swept across the Gulf of Mexico coast and into Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, its winds, storm surge, and flooding did significant damage to the road and bridge infrastructure in the coastal areas of these states. Most of the major highways in the disaster area are part of the Federal-Aid highway system and are therefore eligible for assistance from the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Emergency Relief Program (ER) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Within the context of Hurricane Katrina, Congress faces a number of options in regard to the ER program.