County awarded additional ATRIP funds

Coffee County will see the continuation of road paving projects thanks to another round of Alabama Transportation and Rehabilitation Improvement Program funds from the state.

Coffee County will receive $1.8 million of the $372 million being released to 45 counties in the third phase of ATRIP funding, announced July 24.

ATRIP is the largest road and bridge improvement program in the state's history.

The state has already approved nearly 700 road and bridge improvement projects in the first two phases of funding.

The money distributed in Coffee County will be distributed between the city and county government.

Enterprise is using the first two rounds of funding to complete the replacement, including utilities, of Dauphin Street from North Main Street to the bypass.

The county has used the first two rounds of funding to complete several road-resurfacing projects throughout the county.

"In the third round they are handling it totally different than what they did in the first two in that they are sending it to the county and allowing both municipal and county government to work together to make sure the money is directed to the projects that it's needed to go to," Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said.

For Enterprise, the third phase of funding will cover the small connection from Dauphin Street to the bypass at Shellfield Road, as well as the milling and resurfacing of Coppinville Road.

“ATRIP is making a difference in every county across the state by allowing much-needed road and bridge improvement projects to move forward,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “As we make these improvements, we’re improving public safety, and we’re also helping attract more jobs. When companies look for places to build and expand and hire more people, they look for places that have good roads and bridges. Our roads and bridges will be much safer thanks to this program, and our communities will be in a better position to recruit more jobs.”

According to Bentley's office, funding for ATRIP comes primarily from the use of GARVEE bonds, which allow the state to access future federal dollars to pay for road and bridge projects that are needed immediately.

The bonds, which are funding 80 percent of the projects, allow the state to make these improvements without having to raise taxes.

Local governments are responsible for the remaining 20 percent funding match.

To date, ATRIP and its companion program RAMP (Rural Assistance Match Program), has provided nearly $1 billion in road and bridge replacement projects in Alabama.