Tester Secures More Than $16 Million to Repair Roads in Yellowstone National Park Following Historic 2022 Flooding

Funding comes from the Senator’s bipartisan infrastructure law

Following devastating spring flooding in 2022, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $16,274,429 to repair roads and bridges in Yellowstone National Park. This funding comes both as a direct result of his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), as well as through the appropriations process.

Tester worked with five Republicans and four Democrats to negotiate the IIJA and was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester also secured these funds through the 2023 government funding bill. He was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the legislation.

“The historic flooding that occurred in spring 2022 hit Yellowstone National Park hard, and took a serious toll on the gateway communities and Montanans’ ability to access our public lands,” said Tester. “Between an influx of tourists and the local communities’ need for safe roads and bridges, it was clear we needed to step up. This funding is going to go a long way to repair those damages and help make these communities whole, and I’m proud that it’s coming from my bipartisan infrastructure law.”

The funding will be used to make repairs to infrastructure affected by road section loss, bridge losses and damages, road embankment loss, road surfacing loss, and culvert damages, and was awarded to the National Park Service.

Tester has consistently fought to ensure that rural communities affected by the flooding have the resources they need to get back on their feet. In July 2022, Tester and his fellow members of the Montana delegation secured assurance from USFS that guides, outfitters, and small businesses would receive support and flexibility in finding alternative options to operate on public lands. And in June 2022, Tester and his colleagues successfully urged the Federal Highway Administration to take immediate action and provide much needed funding through the FWHA Emergency Relief Program to areas affected by flooding resulting in $3 million in funding for Montana roads and highways. They also sent a letter to President Biden, which led to the approval of a major disaster declaration and activation of critical FEMA public assistance and support for recovery efforts.

A full list of the nearly $1 billion in federal aid Tester secured to help communities recover from the flooding can be found HERE.