Governor Kay Ivey starts her Rebuild Alabama Road Tour

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Governor Kay Ivey announced the resurfacing of County Road 23 in Chilton County, one of 11 road projects recently made possible by the Rebuild Alabama Act.

The act, passed in 2019, gradually increased the state tax on gas by ten cents. It requires the Department of Transportation to award that money to projects across all 67 counties.

“It’s important to keep people updated on the progress that we made because it was a bold initiative in 2019 to propose such a bill and raise taxes,” said Gov. Ivey. “Well, we haven’t done that in 30 years and it was the right thing to do.”

Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), the original sponsor of the act, said roads and bridges are the lifeline of our economy.

“It’s going on our fifth year now since passage. There’s been road projects in every county of the state, every corner of the state,” said Chambliss. “From the state highway system all the way down to the local roads. And it’s just been a great program.”

Randell Kelley, chairman of the Chilton County Commission, said Rebuild Alabama has paved over 30 miles of road.

“It makes our roads safer. Safer for our kids that have to ride a school bus- these roads are made wider,” said Kelley. “We certainly want to thank everyone whose had a part in Rebuild Alabama.

Gov. Ivey said she’s not stopping at just one county.

“From here in Chilton, to the Wiregrass, to North Alabama, ladies and gentlemen, we are rebuilding Alabama in all 67 counties,” she sad. “And we aren’t putting the brakes on anytime soon.”

This year alone, the Alabama Department of Transportation has awarded more than $15 million to communities statewide for projects. Besides resurfacing, other projects like drainage improvements are taking place in Baldwin and St. Clair counties.

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