Missouri roads need estimated $29M in repairs after floods, transportation officials predict
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The calamitous flooding that swept Missouri this spring is estimated to cost more than $29 million in repairs to the state’s roadways, according to data from the Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
More than $12.4 million has already been spent on various repairs and maintenance expenditures. And with only 83 of 183 sites evaluated, the state agency predicts an additional $16.8 million will be needed to fix the roads from the flood damage. However, some of the most damaged areas in Missouri have yet to be thoroughly evaluated, making the $29 million a “rough estimate,” according to Chris Engelbrecht, the safety emergency management lead for MoDOT.
Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) should end up reimbursing about 75 to 100 percent of the costs — depending on whether the repair projects constitute an “emergency” — but that aid isn’t necessarily immediate. Federal reimbursements can take anywhere from a few months to several years for larger projects, Engelbrecht told The Missouri Times, noting the state is still waiting on reimbursements from some repairs made in 2015.
Compared to other years, road damages were more significant in certain parts of Missouri this year, Engelbrecht said. Particularly in northwest Missouri, which was hit twice this year, officials are predicting more expansive damage, although they haven’t yet gotten to fully assess the area yet.
Read more: https://themissouritimes.com/63102/missouri-roads-need-estimated-29m-in-repairs-after-floods-transportation-officials-predict/
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