The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides financial assistance to repair federal-aid roads and bridges damaged during disasters. Here's a breakdown of the key programs:

Emergency Relief (ER) Program:

• This program is the primary source of federal funding for repairing federal-aid highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters, extreme weather events, and catastrophic incidents.
• Funding is available upon a major disaster declaration by the President.
• The program is funded by a permanent annual authorization of $100 million from the Highway Trust Fund along with supplemental appropriations from Congress as needed.

Eligibility:

• Most public roads, except for those classified as rural or minor collector routes, qualify for assistance under the ER Program if they are on the Federal Highway Administration's designated routes.

Types of Work Covered:

• The ER Program reimburses eligible entities (states, local governments) for the costs of repairs necessary to restore damaged roads and bridges to a safe and usable condition.
• This may include debris removal, repairs to pavement and structures, and restoring traffic flow.

Emergency Work vs. Permanent Work:

• The ER Program is for emergency repairs to restore functionality.
• Permanent repairs to bring the infrastructure to pre-disaster standards might be covered under separate FEMA Public Assistance programs, depending on the specific circumstances.

Additional Considerations:

• The FHWA works with state highway departments to inspect damage and determine eligibility for ER Program funding.
• There is a minimum threshold for the amount of damage a state can claim for reimbursement under the ER program.
• FEMA may also be able to assist with emergency repairs on federal-aid roads in specific situations if the ER Program is not activated.

Resources for More Information:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) - Emergency Relief Program: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/erelief.cfm
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Public Assistance Grant Program: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Privately Owned Roads and Bridges: FEMA's Public Assistance programs might offer some assistance for repairs to privately owned access roads and bridges under specific eligibility criteria.
• Public Roads on Federal Lands: The Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program provides similar assistance for public roads on federal lands, managed by agencies like the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service.

‍