Ike areas get most of $96 million for Texas road repairs

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Thursday that $70 million will go toward the extensive damage caused by Ike in Galveston and along the Texas Gulf Coast when it roared ashore last month with 110 mph winds.

The Associated Press

10/24/2008

GALVESTON, Texas — The national transportation secretary says the area ravaged by Hurricane Ike will get most of $96 million to repair Texas roads and bridges hit by natural disasters.

Mary Peters said Thursday that $70 million will go toward the extensive damage caused by Ike in Galveston and along the Texas Gulf Coast when it roared ashore last month with 110 mph winds.

Another $26 million will be geared toward damage from Hurricane Rita in southeast Texas three years ago and from Hurricane Dolly in South Texas earlier this year. That money also will be used to repair El Paso roads that were flooded in 2006 and other Texas highways that were swamped last year.

Peters says the Texas money is part of a $679 million assistance plan for 28 states and Puerto Rico.