Cocke County is taking its first step in rebuilding one of its major bridges that was destroyed in September during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The State of Tennessee and FEMA announced Thursday that both have approved $7.89 million to replace Cocke County69制片厂制作传媒檚 Conway Bridge, which crosses the Nolichucky River and was destroyed when floodwaters from Tropical Storm Helene swept across East Tennessee in late September.
This bridge is located across the Nolichucky River in the Northwest Corner of Cocke County. The bridge was washed 100 yards downstream.
The news comes a week after FEMA and the state approved $6.2 million to replace the Poplar Springs Bridge in Greene County.
Funding from FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 Public Assistance program covers eligible costs to replace the 414-foot-long concrete bridge built in 1924, using best construction practices and codes and standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis was positive about the great news.
69制片厂制作传媒淭hat is our first project approved by FEMA for Cocke County,69制片厂制作传媒 Mathis said. 69制片厂制作传媒淪eventy-five percent will be paid by FEMA. Originally the next 12.5% would be paid by the state, but in this last special session, the state will do 20% with the local match being five percent.69制片厂制作传媒
Mathis said that the Conway Bridge is a state aid bridge in which the county will use that five percent match meaning that Cocke County won69制片厂制作传媒檛 have to come out of pocket to pay for this bridge.
69制片厂制作传媒淭he Nolichucky doesn69制片厂制作传媒檛 get as much attention as the French Broad and Pigeon rivers because those run through the heart of the county. We69制片厂制作传媒檙e just as dedicated to the recovery along the Nolichucky as to these rivers. The commitment to getting this going is a big part of that. We69制片厂制作传媒檙e to recovery across the entire county. We69制片厂制作传媒檙e all going to recover together and we won69制片厂制作传媒檛 leave anyone behind.69制片厂制作传媒
FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 share for this project is $5,919,427; the nonfederal share is $1,973,142.
Federal funding for the one-lane bridge is based on estimates from FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 Rapid Assessment of Public Infrastructure Data.
That process uses geospatial and aerial imagery as well as assessor information to develop an estimated cost for public infrastructure that was destroyed or damaged in a disaster.
The final scope of work will reflect the reconciled actual costs and capture any additional changes.
Because Public Assistance is a cost-sharing program, FEMA reimburses state applicants 75% of the eligible costs of repairs to existing structures. The federal share is paid directly to the state to disburse to agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations that incurred those costs. The remaining 25% represents nonfederal funds.
The Public Assistance program is FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 largest grant program, providing funding to help communities responding to and recovering from major presidentially declared disasters or emergencies. Tropical Storm Helene swept across Tennessee Sept. 26-30 and the president approved a major disaster declaration on Oct. 2, allowing FEMA to pay for disaster-damaged infrastructure.
The news comes a week after FEMA and the State of Tennessee approved $6.2 million to replace the Poplar Springs Bridge in Greene County. Poplar Springs Bridge, which also spans the Nolichucky River, was destroyed and submerged in the river when Tropical Storm Helene swept across East Tennessee in late September.
The nearly 10,000-square-foot bridge, also known as Easterly Bridge, will be demolished and restored with funding from FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 Public Assistance program. Work to be completed includes architectural and engineering design services that use best construction practices and applicable codes and standards.
FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 share for this project is $4,656,288; the nonfederal share is $1,552,096.
The cost estimate was generated using FEMA69制片厂制作传媒檚 Rapid Assessment with Public Infrastructure Data, which uses geospatial and aerial imagery as well as available Federal Highway Administration and State Department of Transportation data. The scope of work will be updated when the method of repair, surveys and assessments are completed. Property insurance coverage for road, road rights-of-way, embankment erosion, bridges or culvert damage represented on this project are not insured or insurable.
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