DOT announces $5 million for Minot roads, bridges

The U.S. Department of Transportation will release $5 million in emergency funding to help repair roads and bridges damaged by record flooding in the Minot area, North Dakota’s congressional delegation announced Monday.

In a written statement, Rep. Rick Berg and Sens. Kent Conrad and John Hoeven said repairing and restoring transportation infrastructure is an “important step.”

“We have a lot of work ahead of us as we rebuild the Minot area and other communities damaged by floodwaters,” they wrote. “These road funds will help get the recovery process moving forward.”

The Souris River in Minot appears to have crested Sunday at a record level of 1,561.7 feet above sea level.

The emergency grant was awarded through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which reimburses states and counties for infrastructure repairs following natural disasters or catastrophic events.

The delegation said $5 million is “only a small portion” of the federal aid that will be needed in the flood recovery. But “every little bit counts,” and they said they will continue to push for the necessary federal resources and assistance.

The Grand Forks Herald is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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