Mobile County Finishes $25 Million in Road Projects

Posted on: Sep 26th, 2011 | News and Announcements

The Mobile County Commission is poised to finish more than $25 million in road projects in the next two weeks, including major improvements to Airport Boulevard and Old Shell Road. ?We are pushing these projects along as fast as possible because the need is there, the financing is there, and it?s an important economic engine for our county,? said Commissioner Mike Dean. Airport Boulevard is a clean sweep from Snow Road to the Mississippi line with improved drainage and a new surface. The $3.6 million project is supported by $1.8 million in federal funds, with the rest coming from the county?s Pay-As-You-Go financing program. ?This is a primary artery through the county and is vital to commerce and development,? said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?This has been a priority.? Old Shell Road is a shared project with the Alabama Department of Transportation. The two-year project widens the roadway from two to five lanes, from Hillcrest Road to Schillinger Road, creating a five-lane corridor all the way from University Boulevard. Cost of the final improvements is $9.8 million, down significantly from the early estimate of $13 million. ?Sustainable funding makes it possible for the county to meets its most important obligations for the infrastructure even when times are difficult, as they are now,? said Mobile County Commission president Connie Hudson. ?The Pay-As-You-Go Program has proved to be essential to our progress.? Local cities and towns also will benefit from Mobile County?s road improvement program. Another $1.1 million in projects are closing in Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island and the southwest. They include Rock Road, Little River Road, West Alba Street and Davenport Street East, all concentrated in the south side fishing town of Bayou La Batre. On Dauphin Island, the county is concluding work on Desoto Avenue, LeMoyne Drive Service Road and Orleans Drive. On the north side of the county where ThyssenKrupp Steel has created growth and development, Mobile County is closing out several road projects valued at more than $3 million. They include: ? $700,000 in new turning lanes on West Coy Smith Highway at the intersections of Sam Lewis, Patillo and Red Fox Roads. ? $1 million worth of road upgrades in the city limits of Mt. Vernon. ? $1 million in roadway projects in the city of Satsuma, including Old U.S. Highway 43, Dale and Painter Drives and Cedar and Second Streets. ? $1.3 million to upgrade six roads off Celeste Road, between Walter Moore and Army Roads. The City of Mobile also received a facelift worth $2.2 million with the resurfacing of numerous streets. They include Downtowner Loop North, South and West; portions of Michael Boulevard and Demetropolis Road; Davidson High School Drive; Tuthill Lane; roads in Mount Island and Highland Woods subdivisions; Industrial Park Circle and Drive and Morrison Drive. In west Mobile, the county is completing projects on Cuss Fork and Cuss Fork Loop Roads near Wilmer Georgetown Road. Also, Jeffrey Road and Wiggins Lane off Wilmer Road have been resurfaced. The value of those projects is more than $1.5 million. As the above projects close out, the County of Mobile Wednesday opened bids on a major project to pave a dirt road section of Lott Road stretching from Prine Road to Brown Blankinchip Road. The apparent successful bidder on that project for $1.2 million is John G. Walton Construction Inc. ###