County receives $1.3 million for bridge projects

Published 7:30 am Wednesday, November 30, 2022

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Three Covington County bridges will be replaced courtesy of a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

According to county officials, the funds for the bridge replacements will be dispersed through DOT’s Federal Highways Administration as part of the Federal Lands Access Program. All three bridges to be replaced are located in, or near, the Conecuh National Forest. Covington is one of four Alabama counties to receive funding in this cycle.

The projects to be included are located on CR 17 (Hogfoot Road) and CR 25 (Conecuh River Church Road) in District 2, and CR 3 (George Lundy Road) in District 3.  Funding should become available over the next 24 months and officials expect the projects to be under construction and completed by September 2024.

“When combining these projects with our planned Rebuild Alabama projects, and with two previously awarded FLAP projects for bridge replacement on Giles Rd in District 3, the commission will have in excess of $3.6 million of new construction or repaving projects underway and completed over the next 24 months. The commission appreciates the work of our engineering department, and our Road and Bridge crews.  Their hard work makes these projects possible,” said County Commission Chairman Greg White.

This latest round of funding requires no local match, so county funds will be available to match funds for other grant opportunities, White added.

Covington County is responsible for maintaining 278 bridges located on 1,290 miles of county roads. Approximately 35 percent of the county’s bridges have been replaced over the past 25 years.