Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, right, and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill Tuesday, March 7, 2006., seeking another $20 billion in hurricane relief . Total spending on the devastated Gulf Coast region is heading toward the $100 billion mark, but considerably more will be needed, said Govs. Bob Riley, R-Ala., Kathleen Blanco, D-La., Haley Barbour, R-Miss., Texas Gov. Rick Perry. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Miss. getting $248 M in federal money for post-Katrina transportation needs
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 1:32 PM CST
JACKSON (AP) - A new round of federal funding in Mississippi will help replace highway bridges destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and provide ferry service while the construction is under way, officials said Monday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in a news release that Mississippi is receiving another $248 million for transportation needs. The latest announcement comes six weeks after Mineta said the state would get $740 million.
The two rounds of money will be used to pay for U.S. 90 bridges over Biloxi Bay and St. Louis Bay. The money also covers the costs of repairs to the coastal highway and for highway debris cleanup in the months after the storm.
“Roads and bridges don't get fixed on goodwill alone,” Mineta said. “We are getting Mississippi the resources it needs to repair bridges, rebuild roads and reopen this region as soon as possible.”
Katrina hit Aug. 29, leaving a broad swath of destruction across south Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The U.S. 90 bridges in Mississippi were a vital part of the area's economy, linking the state's three southernmost counties, including what had been bustling casino areas.
With the bridges still out, thousands of commuters a day are forced to drive longer, roundabout routes to work. That has pushed more traffic onto an already busy stretch of Interstate 10, which runs parallel to U.S. 90 and the coastline.
Since October, Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran has been urging transportation officials to set up ferry service across Biloxi Bay to join her city and the city of Biloxi.
A CSX railroad bridge over Biloxi Bay has been repaired. In an interview Monday, Moran said she also wants state transportation officials to consider setting up commuter rail service between Ocean Springs and Biloxi.
Moran said she is “rather dismayed” that ferry service still is not in place.
She said traffic “is going to get worse before it gets better, especially when construction starts in full force.”
