The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday provided $40 million to Louisiana and Mississippi to help the Gulf Coast states rebuild roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The Federal Highway Administration will immediately advance each state $20 million in emergency relief funds that may be used to repair or rebuild portions of I-10, U.S. 90 and other federally supported highways and bridges, according to DOT Secretary Norman Mineta.

That money will be the second installment of federal funds for highway and bridge repairs since the hurricane struck. In mid-September, Secretary Mineta announced $5 million in emergency relief funds would go to each state as an initial payment.

For more information, go to www.dot.gov.