Salem, Oregon – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced a large grant of over $15 million targeted at helping the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in its continuous efforts to restore infrastructure damaged by natural disasters in a significant federal cash boost.
Sourced from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), this financial assistance amounts to $15,064,295 and is meant to be reimbursed to ODOT for expenses incurred after the recent severe storms that have affected the state.
Senator Merkley emphasized the vital necessity of these funds and the extreme weather Oregonians throughout the state must contend with.
“Oregonians in every corner of the state have faced dangerous storms in recent years, which have taken a heavy toll on the infrastructure they need to move safely,” Merkley said.
“ODOT went to work to repair and rebuild the roads and other important infrastructure that powers our communities, and these investments will help cover the cost of their essential efforts. I will keep working to ensure Oregon has the tools needed to recover and become more resilient in the face of future storms while we take on the climate chaos that is intensifying these disasters,” Merkley added.

Echoing this sentiment, Senator Wyden stressed the financial strain these natural disasters place on small communities.
“Big storms leave big bills for small communities, and these federal resources will help Oregon to foot the bill for repairs ODOT provided for local roads and other key community infrastructure damaged by severe weather,” Wyden said. “I’m glad our state has secured these funds, and I’ll keep battling both for similar resources when natural disasters strike as well as for smart and science-based approaches that reduce the risks from the climate crisis.”
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ODOT Director Kris Strickler expressed gratitude towards the federal delegation, including Senators Merkley and Wyden, for their support in securing the funds.
“When these storms caused widespread damage to Oregon’s transportation system, our crews stretched themselves to their limits to keep Oregonians safe,” Strickler said. “I want to thank Senators Merkley and Wyden, and the rest of Oregon’s federal delegation, for helping fund ODOT’s response and for helping Oregon recover from these tough storms.”
The most recent batch of financing comes after a string of other grants, including around $43 million set in September 2024 for the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure wrecked by extreme weather in past years.
The breakdown of the new federal funding includes $9,428,695 for repairs from severe winter weather in December 2022, which caused flooding and landslides; $5,031,448 for addressing the damages from a January 2024 ice storm that downed trees and power lines; $325,510 for clean-up after severe thunderstorms in Eastern Oregon in June 2023; and $278,642 for repairs following early December 2023 storms that triggered heavy flooding and road washouts.
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The FHWA Emergency Relief Program, a government effort meant to assist state and local agencies in recovering from natural disasters and catastrophic events, distributes the funds in question. This program is highly important in enabling communities to rebuild damaged infrastructure, therefore guaranteeing safer, more dependable transportation options for citizens and supporting the larger efforts of the impacted areas toward resilience and recovery.