Betterments are added protective features, such as rebuilding of roadways at a higher elevation or lengthening of bridges, or changes which modify the function or character of a highway facility, from what existed prior to the disaster or catastrophic failure, such as additional lanes or added access control. (See 23 CFR 668.103)
Betterments must be clearly economically-justified to receive ER funding. Betterments almost always have a higher initial cost, so the justification must be based on sufficiently reducing future ER eligible damage.
