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On the anniversary of her seventh year as Alabama’s governor, Kay Ivey announced on April 10 that more than $7.9 million in state funding is being awarded to cities and counties for various, statewide road and bridge projects.

The Town of Hayneville received an award of $250,000 from the current round of awards. The funds make possible a resurfacing project for Race Track Lane, Braxton Drive, Woodland Drive and Old Letohatchee Road, an area encompassing 1.8 miles.

Hayneville Mayor Jimmy Davis said the much-needed funds will support road repairs the town could not afford otherwise.

“[The grant] is much needed,” Davis said. “We have some roads that are in dire need of paving. We appreciate the people allowing us to use these funds to improve our city.”

According to Davis, the town’s engineering firm, Civil Southeast, alerted leaders of the grant opportunities and helped complete the application in 2023. Hayneville’s first application was declined, but town leaders persevered to apply again in 2024, receiving the award announced last week.

The Rebuild Alabama Act, which created the Annual Grant Program responsible for this allocation, was passed the Legislature and signed by Ivey in 2019. The act requires the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to establish an annual program setting aside a minimum of $10 million off the top of the state’s share of new gas tax revenue for local projects like those announced Wednesday.

“I am thrilled to announce the significant allocation of over $7.9 million in state funding to address crucial road and bridge projects across our state, especially as I mark the seven-year milestone since taking office,” said Governor Ivey. “From the onset of my tenure, improving Alabama’s roads has been my commitment, and this investment underscores our dedication to modernizing infrastructure and enhancing transportation networks to support our communities. Through Rebuild Alabama, we are continuing to lay the critical foundation for a more prosperous Alabama.”

Of the awarded projects, cities and counties also contributed a total of over $3.3 million in local matching funds. It is anticipated that a number of projects will be under contract by the end of this year. All projects are required to move forward within one year of the awarding of funds.

The Town of Brantley in Crenshaw County was granted $349,952.50, which combined with a local funds amounting to $154,952.50, will fund a $504,905 resurfacing project for North Sasser Street, Wyatt Street, East Grove Avenue and West Grove Avenue — 1.56 miles in Brantley.

Almost $150 million in state transportation has been awarded in all 67 counties so far.

For more information about the Annual Grant Program, visit the program’s dedicated webpage at https://www.dot.state.al.us/programs/RAAGrantProgram.html.

The list of projects can be viewed here.