Emergency Funding For Santa Cruz County Roads Granted By Feds

Santa Cruz CA

13 January, 2020

11:36 AM

Description

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Funding extensions for emergency road repair projects in Santa Cruz County have been secured from the Federal Highway Administration, Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta announced. The funding was originally approved for infrastructure repair from storm damage in the county in 2016 and 2017, with a two-year spending window. "Similar projects have often been granted multiple one-year extensions due to the complex nature of reconstruction projects in California," the congressional representatives said in a joint announcement, noting that "Last year, the FHWA rejected multiple extension requests to California projects." Santa Cruz County sustained more than $140 million in damage at over 200 locations from the storms, more than any other part of California, officials said. Projects have been completed at about 40 of those locations, the county said. Santa Cruz County said it requested funding extensions for 84 projects, eligible for $42 million from the feds. Five of the projects now eligible for funding are under construction. Construction is expected to begin this spring for about a dozen projects and within six months for another 30 projects, the county said. "I'm relieved and pleased that the Federal Highway Administration recognized that funding extensions are essential to repairing roads damaged by the storms. My thanks to Congressman Panetta for his partnership in securing this critical funding," Eshoo said. Patch editor Courtney Teague contributed to this report. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reusewithout the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.