States have had more than a year to prepare for the implementation of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). So, we thought it would be interesting to examine the IIJA by looking at the projects that individual states plan to launch with the funds they receive from the law.
We begin this 50-part endeavor with Alabama, and like most states in the country, the Cotton State desperately needs to improve its infrastructure. Alabama’s overall infrastructure grade is ‘C-,’ according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
The IIJA provides Alabama with $5.53 billion to improve its roads (which received a ‘C-’) and bridges (graded ‘C+’). The first installment of the five-year funding plan was $1.04 billion in fiscal year 2022, which began October 1, 2021. Of that total, $906.39 million in formula funds had to be committed by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2022.
On average, federal funds support 68% of state capital spending in Alabama for highway construction, right of way purchases, and planning and design work. The data below highlights one element of this partnership by quantifying how the state utilized IIJA funds in FY 2022. IIJA funds complement investments made at the state and local level, and the totality generates business activity and economic efficiencies across all sectors of the economy.
Alabama committed $923.76 million in formula funds for highway and bridge projects as of Sept. 30. This does not include eligible transfers to other agencies or programs. This has supported 579 new highway formula fund projects in FY 2022. Reimbursements for work related to these projects is $302.69 million. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced three IIJA discretionary project grants in Alabama, coming in at $27.2 million.
Top Projects
Alabama has planned a series of projects that will upgrade its infrastructure and make the communities a better place to live. Below are the largest federal aid highway and bridge projects that moved forward between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022 using IIJA funds:
- Adding Lanes on SR-7 (US-11) from Daimler Benz Boulevard to the Intersection of SR-5 along the Norfolk Southern Railroad - $56.19 Million
- ATRIP: The purpose of this program is to rehabilitate and improve transportation infrastructure through the accelerated delivery of project funding.
The program's goal is to address critical needs projects across the state in an effort to rehabilitate and improve the in-place facilities and in some cases provide new facilities at locations throughout the state. The program's focus is on essential needs relating to roads and bridges.- $44.43 Million
- Adding lanes on SR-210 (Ross Clark Circle) from South of Meadowbrook Drive South to North Cherokee Avenue and on SR-53 (US-231) from Girard Avenue to Buyers Drive - $44.4 Million
- I-59 Reconstruction of the Northbound Roadway and Rehabilitation of the Southbound Roadway from North of SR-7 to North of SR-117 - $40.9 Million
- CBD I-20/59 Bridge replacement and approaches from I-65 to North of 31st Street North and Interchange Modifications at E.B. Stephens Expressway - $32 Million
- SR-42 (US-98) Fr Miss Line to 0.5 Mi East of CR-576 (Glennwood Rd) - $26.94 Million
- Resurfacing on I-22 from just West of Reese Road Overpass to at Exit 16 - $22.43 Million
- Pavement Preservation on I-85 from 1.15 Mile North of CR-36 to the Lee County Line - $22.01 Million
- Bridge widening on I-85 NB and SB over Line Creek and Relief Bridges - $20.97 Million
- Planning, Overlay, and Striping on I-20 from the East End of the Bridge over 1st Ave. North to the East End of the bridge over SR-4 (US-78) at Exit 140 - $16.78 Million
For more infrastructure projects in Alabama, click here.
Alabama isn’t hesitating with this landmark funding from the IIJA, and many other states are following suit. Be sure to catch up on our past IIJA coverage, and check back next week when we dive into what Alaska is doing with its IIJA funding.
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Source: ARTBA
