Gov. Ivey awards grant to Oneonta for urgent street repair need

MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $350,000 grant to assist the city of Oneonta with a critical need to repair a road damaged by a landslide that has left about 60 residents with limited access to their homes.

The Community Development Block Grant funds will be combined with about $350,000 in local resources to repair Dogwood Drive. The street, located on Shuff Mountain, was damaged in February when rains caused the slide and forced the closure of one of two lanes.

“The city of Oneonta has invested time and money in addressing slides with this road only to have heavy rains erase that work,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to provide these CDBG funds that when combined with an investment by the city will make needed improvements, ensure the safety and welfare of residents and provide safe access for emergency vehicles and school buses.”

Following the rain in February, erosion and landslides on the downhill side of the road continued to crack the asphalt and subsurface as far into the pavement as the center lane, making much of it hazardous for vehicles to travel. A private engineering firm hired by the city maintains that the road will continue to deteriorate until repairs are made. The firm is designing repair proposals to avoid future road washouts.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“ADECA is pleased to join with Gov. Ivey in ensuring residents living along this street in Oneonta have a fully accessible and safe road,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.

Gov. Ivey notified Mayor Richard Phillips that the grant had been approved.

ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.

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Posted in Newsroom.