Phenix City Awarded State Grant For Resurfacing Of Fontaine Road

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on announced $3.1 million in state funding being awarded to cities and counties for road and bridge projects across Alabama.

Of those funds, $161,850 were awarded to Phenix City and Russell County to resurface Fontaine Road from 6^th Place South to Brickyard Road, from the Heap Cheap convenience store to the railroad, just past South Girard School is located.

Previously, in 2021 Phenix City received $218,056, to resurface Dobbs Drive from County Road 59-to County Road 427, which is the street where Central High School is located.

The funding is made available under the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Annual Grant Program created by the Rebuild Alabama Act. Projects may be submitted for improvements to any classified road or bridge open to public traffic.

Phenix City officials say the funding allows the city to resurface roads that may otherwise have had to wait.

“This grant is a little less restrictive when it comes to federal and state funding,” said Phenix City Civil Engineer Chris Casey. “We don’t have to go through the same hoops.”

Because the funding was appropriated by the Legislature with the extra 25 cents gas tax, the funds are available for any road or bridge project.

The Rebuild Alabama Act was passed by the Alabama Legislature and signed by Ivey in 2019 and requires the Alabama Department of Transportation to establish an annual program setting aside a minimum of $10 million from the state’s share of gas tax revenue for local projects.

“From day one of the Ivey Administration, I have made clear to the people of our state that improving Alabama’s roads and bridges is a top priority, and I am proud we continue delivering on that promise,” Ivey said at a press conference on Sept. 30. “Our work is not done, and we will continue delivering results in all 67 of our counties.”

Of the awarded projects, cities and counties must contribute local matching funds, and all projects are required to move forward within one year of the awarding of funds.

This year, more than $15 million in state transportation funds have been awarded through the application-based program, and since the program began local projects in all 67 Alabama counties have been funded.

Casey said the city currently has two other road projects underway.

“We just signed a contract to do the design to resurface 4^th Avenue, from 16^th Street to Idle Hour Drive, and Opelika Road from (U.S.) 280 to the city limits and also Seale Road from 5^th Street south to city limits,” Casey said.

For more information about the Annual Grant Program, visit the program’s dedicated webpage at https://www.dot.state.al.us/programs/RAAGrantProgram.html.