MLive/Flint Journal: Flint gets $20M from feds to help fix road damage from water line fixes

FLINT, MI – Federal officials announced today Flint will receive $20 million to support road projects on major streets in the city and ease financial woes for water line replacement work throughout the city.

"Families in Flint are still living without access to safe, clean water, and they need assistance to recover from this man-made disaster," said Sen. Gary Peters. "This $20 million grant provides critical resources to help the City of Flint repair roads as they work to replace the damaged water infrastructure, keeping Flint on the path to recovery."

Flint is expected to receive the grant as part of the Drinking Water Revolving Fund Roadway Reconstruction fund from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program also known as TIGER.

Flint's grant will help feed various construction projects on Saginaw Street, Atherton Road and Dupont Street and will help ease reconstruction cost from the city's plans to replace water lines throughout the Flint as part of an initiative making sure that residents have clean and safe drinking water.

Since its launch in 2009, TIGER has given $4.6 billion to nearly 400 projects throughout the U.S. including in DC and Puerto Rico. The program focuses on both rural and urban communities that may need help with various road projects.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow said Flint's grant will help move the city forward in replacing Flint's pipes.

"Today's announcement is great news and an important step in fixing and replacing Flint's water infrastructure," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow. "This is yet another example of the Obama Administration continuing to work with us to bring resources and funding to help the people of Flint."

The grant will help fund sidewalk, bike lanes, traffic signals, signage and lighting projects on the streets- A move that will help the city repair damage on roads after replacing underground drinking water mains in Flint.

"I applaud President Barack Obama and Secretary Fox for their continued support for the city of Flint," said Congressman Dan Kildee. "This funding comes at a crucial time and will help to rebuild Flint's infrastructure from the ground up. Replacing the water mains and completing much needed road repairs is a vital step in the process of Flint's recovery."

For more information on the the 2016 TIGER Awards click here.