County to apply for road money
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 13, 2012
County commissioners voted Monday to pursue funding that could complete $5.6 million in road and bridge projects throughout the county, including the resurfacing of the “worst road in the county,” County Road 82.
County engineer Darren Capps said in Gov. Robert Bentley’s state-of-the-state address, he announced more than $200 million in funding would become available through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP).
To be eligible, projects must address needs such as safety, economic development and community connectivity, Capps said. The county will be required to provide a 20 percent match for projects funded.
“This would mean we could get some road and bridge work done that is very much needed,” Capps said. “The projects must meet federal guidelines and can include bridge work and resurfacing. This is a multi-phase application process, and we might add more projects to the list in the future. In my opinion, County Road 82 is the worst road in the county. It’s been patched so many times. It would be great to get it resurfaced.” This road connects Gantt and Red Level.
Four bridges and eight road projects totaling 37.58 miles were identified during the meeting and include:
• Bridges over Easton Creek, Corner Creek, Taylor Mill Creek and Bay Branch;
• 3.26 miles of County Road 70 from County Road 77 to U.S. Hwy. 331;
• 15.7 miles of County Road 42 from the Conecuh county line to the Andalusia city limits;
• 3.11 miles of County Road 42 from County Road 77 to the Opp city limits;
• 5.1 miles of County Road 42 from U.S. Hwy. 84 to County Road 77;
• 3.9 miles of County Road 4 from State Road 54 to the Geneva county line;
• 2.4 miles of County Road 82 from County Road 49 to County Road 43;
• 3.11 miles of County Road 39 from U.S. Hwy. 29 to County Road 37; and,
• 1 mile of County Road 45 (Lindsey Bridge Road) from County Road 56 (Easley Road) to Head Farm Road.
Commissioners agreed that each district was “well represented” in the project’s scope.