In 2022, the Washington County Commission was awarded an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II) grant to construct safety improvements, including new lighting at the intersection of US-43 and SR-56. The ATRIP-II program is designed to rehabilitate and improve transportation infrastructure by funding projects of local interest, proposed by one or more local governments, related to the state-maintained highway system. The program’s focus is an emphasis on the public safety, economic growth, and stability of the state and its roads and bridges.
The intersection improvements feature the resurfacing of approximately 4 miles, new LED lighting, and the addition of a northbound acceleration lane for vehicles turning left onto US-43 from SR-56. This additional lane gives pedestrian vehicles and commercial trucks time to accelerate to merge safely into higher-speed US-43 northbound traffic. The new LED roadway lighting will also increase visibility and help reduce the number of nighttime incidents at this intersection.
ALDOT engineers designed the approximately $3 million project while coordinating with the Washington County Commission. The project was funded by the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program and ALDOT, through the ATRIP-II grant and matching state funds. Federal funds totaled $1.7 million and ALDOT contributed the remaining $1.3 million.
ATRIP-II was created by the Rebuild Alabama Act. This act requires ATRIP-II to be an annual program setting aside a minimum of $30 million off the top of ALDOT’s share of new gas tax revenue for projects of local interest on the state highway system. ATRIP-II, along with the Annual Grant Program also created by Rebuild Alabama, is another example of how local officials can partner with ALDOT and use grant opportunities to improve roadways throughout the state.
