Congressman Bonner is disclosing information regarding projects he has requested for funding in the new surface transportation authorization legislation to replace the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, which expires on September 30, 2009. These projects listed below have not received funding but have only been submitted to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration.
The list includes projects requested of the congressman by various local governmental and public entities. Of the 18 projects requested of Congressman Bonner this year, he recommended 4 of those projects be considered for federal funding. While some of these projects will not receive funding, he is hopeful that the Committee and the U.S. Department of Transportation will consider the requests.
Baldwin County Commission, 312 Courthouse Square, Bay Minette, AL 36507 Highway 83 to I-65 Construction, Baldwin County, AL $120,000,000
Funding will be used to construct the second segment of Highway 83. Segment consists of a 4-lane thoroughfare for 21 miles on Baldwin County Highway 83 from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Interstate 65 (I-65). Project will consist of construction, planning, design, engineering, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition, bridge sizing, permitting, and surveying. Project will provide a hurricane evacuation route for the southern and central parts of this coastal county thereby relieving traffic congestion on existing routes that are unable to handle full-scale evacuations.
Mobile County Commission, 205 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36644
Padgett Switch Road and McFarland Road Construction, Mobile County, AL $60,000,000
Funding will be used to design, right-of-way acquisition and construct Padgett Switch Road and McFarland Road projects. The Padgett Switch road project consists of construction of 5.8 miles of multi-lane roadway from Half Mile Road to Alabama Highway 188. The McFarland Road project consists of construction of 4.2 miles of multi-lane roadway to extend McFarland Road south from Dawes Lane to Old Pascagoula Road. Routes will assist in hurricane evacuations and provide a safer transportation route between south Mobile County and I-10. The construction of these segments of roadway will provide a much needed north/south artery in the western part of the county as well as a safe evacuation route for the south portion of the county.
Monroe County Commission, P. O. Box 665, Monroeville, AL 36461
El Camino Corridor/Highway 84 Construction from Monroeville, AL to Evergreen, AL $81,320,000
Funding will be used to construct a 22-mile segment of U.S. 84 from Evergreen, AL to Monroeville, AL. Project will consist of planning, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocations, and widening of a two-lane to four-lane highway. U.S. 84 is a major east/west corridor across the southern portion of Alabama and is part of the 1,729 mile El Camino East/West Corridor that runs from El Paso, TX to Brunswick, GA. U.S.84 is a route routinely traveled heavily by freight and has a high volume of fatalities each year. Construction of this four-lane route will allow all to travel the corridor safely and effectively.
University of South Alabama, 307 North University Boulevard, Mobile, AL 36688
Research Center for Intermodal Infrastructure, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL $5,000,000
Funding will be used for a University Transportation Center (UTC). Center will focus on performing research and developing research products related to design, operation, maintenance, monitoring, modeling and enhancement of critical intermodal infrastructure in coastal environments. Specifically, UTC will focus on transportation infrastructure that is exposed to waves, tides, coastal and inland flooding. Research will improve the ability to design, construct and operate infrastructure that focuses on highways and bridges, particularly those that serve as critical commerce arteries and evacuation routes.