HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The City of Hanceville has been awarded $250,000 for resurfacing of and drainage work on Commercial Street from U.S. Highway 31 eastward to the bridge at North Fork Mud Creek. The grant was announced by Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Thursday morning as a part of the $7 million awarded to cities and counties for various local road and bridge projects.
The funding is made available through the Annual Grant Program, a new program created under the Rebuild Alabama Act. The Rebuild Alabama Act requires 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 road and bridge projects.
The City of Hanceville will pay $24,999.50 toward the Commercial Street project.
Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail said upon hearing the good news, “We had felt good about our chances and are excited to learn we got it. We want to thank Gov. Ivey and Senator (Garlan) Gudger (R-Cullman) and of course (Rep.) Randall Shedd (R-Fairview) for their hard work.”
Nail said Commercial Street has been repaved recently, but the gutters were paved over, leading to flooding issues and standing water attracting mosquitoes and other insects. The grant will allow for the milling of the road and correcting drainage before resurfacing.
Nail said, “We like Gov. Ivey. She has been very good to the City of Hanceville.”
Shedd also praised Ivey, saying in a statement:
“I am pleased today that Gov. Kay Ivey and Transportation Director John Cooper announced funding approval for two $250,000 local road projects in my district. And, there’s more to come!
“I am honored to represent almost half of Blount County. $250,000 was awarded to the Blount County Commission for resurfacing roads in the Royal community in Blount County.
“I am honored that Hanceville is the largest city in my district and they were awarded $250,000 for resurfacing and drainage improvements on Commercial Street in Hanceville.
“Funds for these two projects come from the new revenue from Gov. Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama Act. These funds are in addition to the regular road and bridge funding going to cities and counties from the Rebuild Alabama Act.
“The four counties I represent will receive more than $50 million of new money the next 10 years for road and bridges in regular funding at their discretion. These projects are in addition to their regular funding.
“As I said, more road and bridge projects will be announced soon. I want to thank Governor Ivey and Director Cooper for approving these two funding applications.”
“An investment in our roads and bridges is an investment in the future of Alabama. These $7 million in funds will go a long way in helping communities across the state address various road and bridge projects,” Ivey said. “I am proud to see the continuing positive ramifications from the Rebuild Alabama Act. Soon, every Alabama citizen will feel the benefits from this additional investment in our infrastructure.”
There were 31 projects selected for funding totaling $7 million from ALDOT. A second award cycle is expected later this year to award the remaining $3 million in funding, with notification to cities and counties coming from the League of Municipalities and County Commission Associations. It is anticipated that all projects will be under contract by the end of the calendar year, after bids are taken.
The Office of Gov. Kay Ivey contributed to this story.
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