The backlog of road projects in Alabama just got some needed funding. Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Transportation have released a listing of local road and bridge projects that will be funded this year from monies secured through the Rebuild Alabama Act.
The act requires the ALDOT to establish an annual program setting aside $10 million off the top of the state’s share of new gas tax revenue for local road and bridge projects. Seven million dollars is currently being awarded to these projects.
“An investment in our roads and bridges is an investment in the future of Alabama,” said Ivey. “Soon, every Alabama citizen will feel the benefits from this additional investment in our infrastructure.”
There were 31 projects selected for funding, totaling $7 million from ALDOT. A second award cycle is expected later this year, which will award the remaining $3 million in funding, with notification to cities and counties coming from the League of Municipalities and county commission associations. It is anticipated that all projects will be under contract by the end of the calendar year, after bids are taken.
For this first cycle of funding, resurfacing of roads make up the bulk of the projects. These resurfacing projects are in Silver Hill in Baldwin County, Louisville in Barbour County, five projects throughout Blount County, Piedmont in Calhoun County, Thorsby in Chilton County, Red Level in Covington County, Hanceville in Cullman County, Clayhatchee in Dale County, Orville in Dallas County, Sardis City in Etowah County, Fayette in Fayette County, Black in Geneva County, Boligee in Greene County, Fairfield in Jefferson County, Millport in Lamar County, Rogersville in Lauderdale County, Grant in Marshall County, Beatrice in Monroe County, Goshen in Pike County, Calera in Shelby County, Cuba in Sumter County, Munford in Talladega County and Chatom in Washington County.
Some counties had only one major resurfacing project, including Combs Road in Chambers County, County Road 43 in Choctaw County and County Road 51 in DeKalb County. Each of these three projects were awarded $250,000 from the state, with additional matching funds being provided at the local level.
In addition to resurfacing projects, some of the funding went for other repairs, such as in Fulton in Clarke County, where drainage is being repaired on Main Street and Swimming Pool Road. Another project that was funded in Auburn in Lee County was a culvert replacement on Ogletree Road. A roundabout at the intersection of Jordan Road and Homer Nance Road is being constructed in Madison County. Another project funded was the addition of a turn lane on Vance-Blocton Road in Vance in Tuscaloosa County. Only one bridge replacement project was awarded during this round — on Commerce Avenue in Dora in Walker County.
