Delaware’s Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is getting an extra boost from the federal government.
Each summer the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) redistributes funding from states which did not use all of their federal infrastructure grants to other states able to showcase need.
This year Delaware is getting more than $23 million additional dollars. That amount is about average compared to recent years, but it comes at an opportune time when the state is investing $650 million in capital improvements—the largest amount Delaware has ever put towards infrastructure.
DelDOT spokesman C.R. McLeod notes the state has until the end of the federal fiscal year to use the new money and FY2019 ends in about a month.
“We always try to do a good job to make the case we will put those monies to use right away,” said McLeod.
The state is putting the funds toward multiple bridge and median projects. DelDOT is also adding High Friction Surface Treatment to roads throughout the state.
McLeod says the funds should shorten the length of the projects.
“We’re really trying to use this money to get projects out the door sooner than anticipated,” he said.
Delaware has received $100 million in redistributed FHWA dollars over the past five years.
