Hayes, Lamont, Congressional Delegation Announce Additional Funding Reimbursement For Road and Bridge Repair Costs Related to August 2024 Storm

WATERBURY – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Governor Ned Lamont , and the Connecticut Congressional Delegation announced the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved another $15 million in emergency relief funding to reimburse the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for the costs of road and bridge repairs following the historic August 2024 rain and flooding event that impacted western Connecticut. With this latest approval, federal emergency relief to CTDOT for this storm totals $43 million, covering most of the estimated $51 million in repair costs. It follows FHWA approval of $3 million in “quick release” funds in September 2024 and a $25 million reimbursement in October 2025. Immediately upon the impact of the storm, CTDOT began using available funds to make necessary repairs and reopen roads and bridges. These reimbursements replace that money so other CTDOT projects can proceed as planned. Additionally, as part of FY2026, Congresswoman Hayes secured $1.5 million in Community Project Funding, to cover renovations and repairs for the Southbury Public Library following damages resulting from the August 2024 storm. “In 2024, the Fifth District experienced extreme weather that left significant damage to critical infrastructure. Federal reimbursements like this recognize the efforts made at the state and local levels to respond quickly to emergencies and restore resources. As severe weather events become more frequent, I am actively working in Congress to improve our aging infrastructure and enhance our capacity to respond to disasters,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Extreme weather is putting more pressure on our infrastructure, and when historic flooding washed out roads and bridges in western Connecticut, we immediately got to work restoring those connections. This federal reimbursement helps ensure that emergency work doesn’t come at the expense of other projects. I’m thankful to our Congressional delegation and federal partners for making this happen,” said Governor Lamont. “Emergency relief funding is what allows us to respond and then recover. This funding puts back the resources we used to get Connecticut moving again after the flooding. We appreciate our Congressional delegation, USDOT Secretary Duffy, and FHWA Administrator McMaster and his team for helping us move forward,” said Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Traveling throughout affected areas after the storm, I saw firsthand the devastating impacts on local bridges and roads. This $15 million in federal funding will reimburse CTDOT for the swift repairs they completed following the floods. Our delegation fought hard for this funding and I’m proud we have continued to deliver relief to help our communities rebuild. As climate change creates more frequent and destructive storms, we must continue to make long-term investments in climate resilience to prevent future disasters, protect our infrastructure and keep our communities safe,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal. “We’ve come a long way towards rebuilding western Connecticut’s infrastructure since those devastating 2024 floods, but we need to be proactive and prepare for when the next big storm hits. This federal reimbursement will keep CTDOT’s heroic emergency repair work funded while making important upgrades possible,” said Senator Chris Murphy. “The August 2024 floods tore through our communities, washing out roads and bridges that families and businesses depend on every day. This additional $15 million, on top of the $28 million in federal funding already provided, means Connecticut can keep moving forward on our recovery. I am grateful to Governor Lamont, Commissioner Eucalitto, and CTDOT’s dedicated workforce for their tireless work to get our infrastructure back on its feet. When disaster strikes, no state should have to rebuild alone. As ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will keep fighting to make sure federal help is there when our state needs it,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “I’m thrilled the federal government is supporting Connecticut’s recovery after severe flooding wreaked havoc on infrastructure throughout the southwest of the state. With storms growing more severe due to climate change, it’s vital the federal-state disaster recovery partnership remains strong. Connecticut’s Congressional delegation stands united in working to deliver the resources our constituents need when crisis strikes,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). Three bridges in Oxford and Southbury are currently in design for a future construction project, with those costs also eligible for emergency relief funds.