Tuberville seeks $6 million in federal budget for new Southside bridge

There’s more progress toward replacing the antiquated northbound bridge on Alabama Highway 77 that crosses the Coosa River and connects Southside and Rainbow City.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, has requested that $6 million for the project be included in the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2024.

That budget would have to be approved by the House and Senate and signed by the president before the money actually appears, and $6 million won’t fully fund construction. But Southside officials continue to work on that, as motorists who for years have dealt with miserable rush-hour commutes across the bridge wait in anticipation.

“We had asked for much more," Mayor Dana Snyder said, “but we were told by Sen. Tuberville’s office that they had contacted ALDOT and Director (John) Cooper and asked how much they actually need (from the federal government) for this project, and they based their number off that.”

Snyder said the city is supposed to hear by June 28 whether its fourth application for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant has been approved. That program, once called Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, is intended to facilitate community projects “with significant local or regional impact.”

Priority is given to projects involving freight and passenger transportation networks, and one rationale for Southside seeking $17 million for the bridge is that Alabama 77 is a significant connector between the Honda plant in Lincoln and its suppliers.

“It usually takes three or four times to get a grant,” Snyder said. “We hope this is the time.”

And as a fallback or a potential new funding source, Southside is set to apply for another federal grant that Snyder said is geared more toward this type of project.

She said the city’s grant writer was authorized to seek a Bridge Improvement Program grant; the exact amount remains to be determined.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website, BIP “is a competitive, discretionary program that focuses on existing bridges to reduce the overall number of bridges in poor condition, or in fair condition at risk of falling into poor condition.”

“It’s a no-brainer to apply,” Snyder said.

The northbound bridge is structurally sound, but it’s also 84 years old. It carried two-way traffic across the river — something that amazes drivers who aren’t at or close to retirement age, given its narrow footprint — for 40 years, until a southbound bridge was put into service in 1979.

City officials say 20,000 vehicles pass over it each day, and jams of 100 or more are common at peak traffic times.

Snyder said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, has indicated to her that the project has "lots of backing” and that the state is being pushed to get it done.

ALDOT has indicated that the design phase is 30% complete and that construction is set to start in 2025, although Snyder said that could, of course, be pushed back. Still, the mayor is confident that a new bridge is getting closer.

“It’s important to us from an economic development standpoint, not just for traffic, although cars and trucks are getting bigger now,” she said. “It’s just time for it.”

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Federal money for new Southside bridge