Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that another $2.6 million in state funding is being awarded to cities and counties for various road and bridge projects. Rebuild Alabama projects from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) have now been awarded in all of the state’s 67 counties. The road repairs and improvements are paid for by a ten-cent a gallon fuel tax increase that Ivey asked the Legislature to pass following her election in 2018. This is the third year of the program.
“I am incredibly proud that Rebuild Alabama has now made road and bridge projects possible in all of our state’s 67 counties,” said Governor Ivey. “Three years ago, I promised the people of Alabama that every single penny would go to road and bridge projects, and we are seeing that the proof is in the pudding. This is a remarkable milestone for our state, and I look forward to furthering these efforts to make Alabama a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
The funding for these awards is made available through the Annual Grant Program, a program created under the Rebuild Alabama Act. The Rebuild Alabama Act was signed by Gov. Ivey in 2019. It required 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 projects.
There are 11 projects across Alabama receiving funding in the final award under the Annual Grant Program for the 2022 fiscal year. Of those awarded projects, cities and counties also contributed a total of over $1.1 million in local matching funds. Matching funds are not required to be eligible for the program, but all projects are required to move forward within one year of the awarding of funds.
These new awards include:
Autaugaville in Autauga County will receive $250,000 to resurface North Taylor Street, Golson Street, Line Street, South Washington Street, Sweet Gum Street, Dutch Bend Street, and Pine Street. Local authorities will provide a match of $44,765.
Autaugaville in Autauga County will also receive $250,000 to replace Choctaw Bridge over Spear Creek on Timberline Road. The state is providing $250,000 for the project, while local authorities are providing $450,000.
Tuscumbia in Colbert County was awarded $250,000 to widen and resurface Glendora Avenue from US-72 to Veterans Boulevard and Graham Avenue from Old Lee Highway to Cossey Drive. Local authorities are providing $77,517 for the project.
Midland City in Dale County was awarded $250,000 to resurface Hinton Waters Avenue from CR-59 to 4th Street and to resurface 4th Street from SR-134 to Midland-Michigan Avenue for $250,000.
Valley Head in DeKalb County was granted $220,000 to resurface Valley Head Square (Anderson Street, Commerce Avenue, Winston Street, and Sulphur Springs Road) and Carmichael Road).
Flomaton in Escambia County received a grant of $250,000 to resurface and make drainage improvements on Hillview Drive, Titi Street, College Street, and Alley 5.
Hueytown in Jefferson County received $250,000 to resurface Virginia Drive from 15th Street to Virginia Road. Local governments provided a match of $11,635.
Lawrence County was awarded $250,000 to resurface CR-187 from SR-157 to CR-203, CR-203 from CR-187 to CR-81, and CR-81 from CR-203 to SR-157. Local government provided a $ 157,856 match for the $407,856 project.
Albertville in Marshall County will receive $250,000 to resurface Pine Street from SR-205 to the city limits. Local government is providing a match of $ 213,130 to finish the $463,130 project.
Helena in Shelby is receiving $161,376 to add a right-turn lane to CR-17 at the CR-58 intersection.
Sylacauga in Talladega was awarded $250,000 to replace the bridge on Walnut Road over Ogletree Creek. The project includes a local match of $197,535.
$130 million in state transportation funding has been awarded through the local grant programs created by the Rebuild Alabama Act.
Ivey is seeking re-election in the general election on November 8. She faces Libertarian Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake and Democrat Yolanda Rochelle Flowers on the ballot. There are also a couple of write-in candidates: Dean Odle and Jared Budling.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
