MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $500,000 grant to the city of Troy to rehabilitate a downtown bridge that currently has weight restrictions preventing emergency service vehicles from using it.
The urgent-need Community Development Block Grant will assist the city in strengthening the Elm Street Bridge, which the Alabama Department of Transportation has determined requires weight restrictions due to structural weaknesses caused by deterioration.
The bridge spans the CSX Railroad and Conecuh Valley Railroad tracks in downtown Troy. According to the Troy Fire Department, the inability to use the bridge has increased response times and travel distances to emergency calls in the city.
“In an emergency, every second counts, so it is important for first responders to have access to the fastest route to their destination,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to support the efforts by Troy leaders to repair this bridge and provide timely emergency services to its residents.”
Weight restrictions for the bridge also limit use by heavy vehicles including tractor-trailers, delivery trucks and sanitation vehicles. The project will include lifting the bridge to facilitate inspection and replacement of deteriorated bridge components and the installation of protective materials to mitigate future wear on the bridge. Traffic control and safety measures during construction are also figured into the project’s estimated cost.
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.
“Urgent Need Community Development Block Grants help municipalities in cases like this one where there is an immediate public safety need,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in support of this project to improve emergency response times in Troy.”
Gov. Ivey notified Troy Mayor Jason Reeves that the grant had been approved. The city will contribute $700,000 to the project.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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