FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 30, 1998
Contact: Karen Whitney
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 17-98
DOT
PROVIDES $18.5 MILLION
IN FUNDS FOR PUBLIC LANDS PROJECTS
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced that $18.5 million from the Federal Highway Administration’s Public Lands Discretionary Funds will support eight projects on public lands or Indian reservations in eight states.
"This nation’s public lands are one of our most cherished resources, and the projects we are funding will help states improve roads and facilities on these lands," Secretary Slater said. "This construction will provide jobs, and the improvements will benefit industry, residents and visitors."
The $18.5 million will provide the following:
$5.8 million for phase two of a project to reconstruct 14 miles of Claypool-Jakes Corner Highway (S.R. 88 and 188) in Tonto National Forest in Arizona;
$4 million for reconstruction of 15.8 miles of the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (Forest Highway 62) in Idaho, improving access to recreational and timber activities in the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls Scenic area and the Targhee National Forest;
$3.4 million for Auburn-Foresthill Road in California to improve safety and access for recreation and forest management in Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests and Bureau of Land Management properties;
$3 million for Wolf Creek Pass Road (Forest Highway 5; State Route 35) in Wasatch County, Utah, to pave 15.7 miles in the fifth phase of reconstruction to improve the road and access to range lands, timber locations, energy development sites and recreational activities within the Uintah National Forest;
$1.2 million for Walden Point Road on the Metlakatla Indian Reservation in Alaska;
$525,000 for New Mexico Route 537 on the Jicarilla Indian Reservation in New Mexico;
$500,000 for Forest Highway 8 (Bamfield Road) in Michigan to improve access and safety for users of Huron National Forest, AuSable River and Alcona County Park; and
$100,000 for Forest Highway 3 in Peru, Vt., to improve access to Hapgood Pond and recreational and commercial activities in the Green Mountain National Forest.
Funds from the Public Lands Highways Discretionary Funds account support transportation projects that are within or are adjacent to or provide access to public land areas.
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