The City of West Memphis in Arkansas has been awarded $16 million in a major grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the new PROTECT grant program. The program aims to increase the resiliency of transportation systems to extreme weather events. The Mayor of West Memphis, Marco McClendon, stated that flooding has been a major issue in the city and plans to use the grant money to restore wetlands along the Mississippi Riverbank and protect forestry in the area. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg praised West Memphis’ proposal for its focus on natural infrastructure, such as shoring up wetlands to absorb water and prevent damage to major highways. Buttigieg emphasized the importance of being proactive rather than reactive in addressing transportation system vulnerabilities. It could take a few months for the city to receive the funding and begin implementing the project. The grant program aims to ensure that transportation systems are better equipped to handle future challenges and enhance overall resilience. Residents can stay updated on the progress of the project by downloading the FOX13 Memphis app for alerts on breaking news in the area.
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