Gadsden awards bid on key drainage project
The City of Gadsden is set to enhance its drainage infrastructure using American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, addressing significant flooding issues in the area. On November 5, the City Council approved a bid of $2,894,551 from Lambert Construction for the first phase of the Agricola Drainage Improvement Project. This phase will extend from North 12th Street through the Agricola Shopping Center to the former Marvin’s site on North 11th Street, and will involve building a 6- to 7-foot-deep detention basin designed to manage stormwater runoff. Phase 2 will tackle drainage modifications along Tuscaloosa Avenue, including new culverts. Heath Williamson, the city’s engineering director, described the initiative as a “generational change” for an area plagued by flooding during rainfall.
Additionally, the council authorized transferring over $1 million in ARP funds to the General Fund, reallocating money initially earmarked for Memorial Bridge upgrades, a project currently stalled as funding is sought. The urgency of these steps is driven by a requirement to allocate ARP funds by the year’s end, preventing potential forfeiture to the federal government.
In a community highlight, the Rev. Julius Easley Love, a local resident and member of the Grammy-winning Blind Boys of Alabama, was honored during the meeting. Love, who received the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album for “Echoes of the South,” expressed his gratitude and inspired attendees with a message of love and support.
Read the complete article here: https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2024/11/11/gadsden-awards-bid-on-key-drainage-project/76123136007/
