WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren announced today that he has secured $800,000 for improvements to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge road. The funding was part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday by a vote of 256 to 158. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“The wildlife refuge draws tens of thousands of tourists, fishermen and women, wildlife enthusiasts, and hunters each year. It provides an economic boost to the community of Vian and Sequoyah County as those same visitors also spend money at local businesses,” Boren said. “I am committed to bringing federal funding home for projects like this that improve our infrastructure for continued growth.”
The project funding will allow for improvements to the roadway approaches to a newly replaced bridge on the refuge road. Boren previously secured funding for two other phases of improvements to the road. This funding will allow for the final phase of improvements to the refuge road and brings the total of funding Boren has secured for the road to $1.3 million. The total cost for all recent improvements on the roadway is approximately $1.8 million.
“We are pleased that funding was awarded to finalize this project,” said District 2 County Commissioner Steve Carter. “We greatly appreciate Congressman Boren’s assistance in securing these resources, and for the funding he’s obtained for previous phases of the project. Without his efforts, this would never have been a reality. We look forward to working with him on future projects to improve transportation in Sequoyah County.”
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