Tuesday,
June 4, 2002
FHWA 22-02
Contact: Bill Outlaw
Tel.: 202-366-0660
Bush Administration Pledges Downpayment of $3 Million Toward Rebuilding of I-40 Bridge in Oklahoma
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced that the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will
immediately commit an initial $3 million in federal emergency relief funds to
the state of Oklahoma as part of the federal government’s efforts to help the
state rebuild the I-40 Bridge in eastern Oklahoma.
“Repairing the I-40 Bridge over the Arkansas River as
quickly as possible is a priority for our Administration,” Secretary Mineta
said. “We will assist the state
of Oklahoma in every way to minimize the interruptions on this important
Interstate route in America’s heartland.
I-40 is one of this nation’s busiest east-west routes, and we will
continue working closely with the state of Oklahoma to ensure that the bridge is
reconstructed quickly.”
“President Bush and Secretary Mineta’s highest
transportation priority is to assure the mobility, safety and security of those
traveling on our nation’s transportation system,” FHWA Administrator Mary E.
Peters said. “We are helping
Oklahoma to rebuild the bridge as quickly as possible by using the most
innovative contracting practices and construction techniques available today.”
These innovative contacting practices and construction
techniques could enable the state of Oklahoma to reconstruct the bridge in about
half the normal six-month time.
The I-40 Bridge, which runs over the Arkansas River near
Webbers Falls, OK, was struck on the morning of May 26 by a barge that veered
several hundred feet from the river’s navigational channel and into the
bridge. The impact caused the
collapse of four of the approach spans of the bridge.
At least 14 people were killed.
FHWA emergency relief funds are provided after the
President or a Governor issues a formal emergency proclamation and the state
files a preliminary damage assessment for its highways and bridges on the
federal-aid system. Oklahoma Gov.
Frank Keating issued a proclamation on May 28.
The funds reimburse the state for the damage repair work that is already completed and provides funding for the remaining damage repair work to correct major or unusual damage to federal-aid highways. Eligible repair work includes reconstructing damaged bridges and pavement surfaces, establishing detours, removing slides and debris, and replacing signs, lighting and guardrails.
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