WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators John Boozman and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) today announced the state of Arkansas will receive a $1,277,497.50 federal grant to rebuild the Macon Bayou Bridge on Lewis Road in Chicot County, which collapsed following this year’s flooding on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which issued the grant, said the state’s current plans for the $1.7 million project will be to return the bridge to pre-disaster footprint and function. 

“The Macon Bayou Bridge was literally washed away during the historic flooding along the Mississippi this year. This grant will help the people of Chicot County rebuild and the local economies in southeast Arkansas grow,” Boozman said. 

“The severe storms and flooding that swept through southeastern Arkansas this year damaged many of our local bridges and roads,” Pryor said.  “This funding will allow Chicot County to make necessary repairs, creating immediate construction jobs and ensuring that we have well-maintained infrastructure to move passengers and goods.” 

“This year’s historic flooding along the Mississippi River took a toll on eastern Arkansas, including completely wiping out the Macon Bayou Bridge.  This federal investment will help the state of Arkansas rebuild the bridge, create jobs and help ensure southeast Arkansas has the infrastructure it needs to recover and grow,” said Ross.