Governor Signs Request for Federal Funding to Repair Maine Roadways: Federal highway damages estimated to total more than $1 million

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage signed a proclamation Monday to request emergency relief assistance to help cover the cost of repairing damage that occurred on federally-funded roadways due to the recent flooding following heavy rains.

Southern and central parts of the State were impacted particularly hard during the month of June. The counties which received significant damage as a result of extremely heavy rains were Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Sagadahoc. The flooding and associated run-off produced serious and extensive damage to both private and public property. As a consequence, Maine has sustained severe damage to its road systems, including the State’s Federal-aid highways.

Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials estimate that repair costs to federally-funded roadways are more than $1 million. Several federally-funded roads including Route 136 corridor in Durham and roads in the towns of Brownville and Patten are among the most significantly impacted. In addition to the Governor’s proclamation, this week, MDOT will submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration seeking funding which would help fix those roadways that are maintained by federal dollars.

In the proclamation, Governor LePage recognizes that the immediate repair and reconstruction of damaged highways is vital to the security, well-being, and health of the citizens of the State of Maine.