June 4, 2012
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County Road 19 to get portion of $138M in highway funds STAFF REPORTS JACKSON — New state funding announced last week is a welcome investment in Cherokee County transportation system, county officials said last week in a statement released by the County Commission's office. “Cherokee County is ready to go as a full partner with the state on this project, which will have a significant positive impact for our residents,” said Melvyn Salter, chairman of the Cherokee County Commission. “We are delighted that Gov. Bentley has chosen to make this important investment in our community.” On May 31 Gov. Robert Bentley announced $138 million worth of local road and bridge projects that will receive funding in the first phase of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP). The program is a funded by a bond issue that will be repaid with Alabama's share of future federal transportation dollars. Bentley said a total of 105 road and bridge projects are being planned across Alabama to improve the state's infrastructure. This expenditure will constitute the first of three phases eventually estimated to total up to $1 billion in road projects in the state. Bentley announced the projects during a stop in the southwest Alabama town of Jackson. The first round of work includes projects in 61 of Alabama's 67 counties. Mobile County receives the largest share of money, with three projects worth $12.9 million on the list. ATRIP bonds will cover $10.1 million of the total, while local governments are responsible for the remaining $2.8 million. Locally, nearly $1.5 million will be spent to resurface County Road 19. The multi-mile span runs from County Road 39 to County Road 71. Local governments are required to contribute a 20 percent match for these special, one-time state dollars. The majority of projects funded in ATRIP's first phase will be let to contract by the end of 2012. |