Vicksburg National Military Park to receive federal funds toward repairing eroded roadways

The Vicksburg National Military Park and the Natchez Trace Parkway will be receiving $8 million in federal funds to help repair eroded roadways, Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith announced Thursday.

The funds are part of $22.7 million the state will receive in emergency relief funding from the Federal Highway Administration to offset costs for repairing and reconstructing federal roadways damaged by flooding and storms earlier this year.

“The severe storms and flooding Mississippi experienced earlier this year claimed lives and caused significant damage to federal properties throughout the state,” Hyde-Smith said in a statement. “Damage to the Vicksburg National Military Park, a historic and economic asset to Warren County, was particularly startling. I’m pleased the U.S. Transportation Department has approved this emergency relief funding to address the costs of making necessary repairs to ensure public safety and commerce.”

The five awards are linked to federal and state emergency disaster declarations issued for Mississippi following heavy rains and flooding in 2019 and 2020, including the February 2020 storms that caused the Pearl River to reach its third-highest crest on record. One award is linked to severe weather and flooding in April 2020.

The FHWA awards include:

• $12,952,530 – Mississippi Department of Transportation for February 2020 heavy rain and severe flooding damage repairs
• $8,000,000 – National Park Service for Jan. 11 and Feb. 14, 2020, heavy rain and flood damage repairs
• $1,044,692 – MDOT for February 2019 flood damage repairs
• $749,010 – MDOT for April 12, 2020, storms and flooding repairs
• $41,963 – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for February 2019 flood damage repairs