Augusta ? Today, Senator Susan Collins informed MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt of the US Department of Transportation?s decision to provide $500,000 in emergency federal highway funding to help repair US Route 136 in the town of Durham.
Heavy rains in June severely damaged Route 136. These funds will go toward the construction of the road, which is anticipated to begin August.
?Senator Collins was instrumental in helping to identify and secure emergency federal highway funds to help with this devastated piece of road,? said Commissioner Bernhardt. ?Her work, along with US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, demonstrates the type of coordination that is critical in keeping our roads and our infrastructure a top priority for Maine residents.?
Governor LePage issued an emergency proclamation on July 2nd that identified areas of the state that were most affected by June?s heavy rains. That action started the process of requesting emergency relief funds that will help in rebuilding damaged roads, and prevent further erosion.
MaineDOT has estimated that overall damage to federal-aid highways from these floods will likely exceed $2 million.