N.M. Delegation Announces $1.6 Million Grant for Highway and Road Repairs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján, and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive a $1.6 million grant for repair and reconstruction of roads around the state damaged in last year's floods. The grant funds will be used to restore major highways and roads on federal lands that were damaged by the severe flooding in September. The record-breaking rain and storms caused damage in about two-thirds of the state.

In October, at the urging of the congressional delegation, President Obama declared a major disaster for the state of New Mexico and Santa Clara Pueblo for the severe storms and flooding that occurred from Sept. 9-22. This funding is being made available as a result of the delegation's request for emergency relief. It will help restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage, protect remaining facilities, and complete other permanent repairs necessary to restore roads and highways to their pre-flooding conditions. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration authorized the funds through an Emergency Relief program, which may award funds to a state after the president or governor issues a formal emergency declaration and if the state requests emergency relief for repairs to its eligible highways.