The FHWA administers Federal-Aid System Emergency Relief (ER) Funds for emergency and permanent repairs to facilities on the federal-aid system. This includes local government agency roads functionally classified Rural Major Collector or above. (Federal-aid highways are all the public roads not functionally classified as either local or rural minor collectors.) Temporary operations, emergency repairs, and preliminary engineering including consultant work may proceed without prior FHWA authorization.

Permanent restoration work should not be performed prior to FHWA authorization unless performed as part of emergency repairs.

In addition to the actual repairs, ER funds may also be used for reasonable design and construction engineering costs on approved projects. More information can be found in FHWA Emergency Relief Manual.

To obtain emergency relief funds, all proposed projects must be prepared and submitted to the FHWA though the Maintenance Division.

The districts are responsible for the state oversight of all Emergency Relief projects including those with state forces. Detailed information about the state oversight can be found in the

Maintenance Contract Manual

.