Troy to get federal grant money for repairs to downtown bridge

The City of Troy will get a $500,000 federal grant to make improvements to a bridge downtown.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the city would get this Community Development Block Grant for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city will chip in an additional $700,000.

The money will be used to strengthen the Elm Street Bridge, which the Alabama Department of Transportation has determined requires weight restrictions due to structural weaknesses caused by deterioration.

The bridge spans the CSX Railroad and Conecuh Valley Railroad tracks in downtown Troy. According to the Troy Fire Department, the inability to use the bridge has increased response times and travel distances to emergency calls in the city.

“In an emergency, every second counts, so it is important for first responders to have access to the fastest route to their destination,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to support the efforts by Troy leaders to repair this bridge and provide timely emergency services to its residents.”

Weight restrictions for the bridge also limit use by heavy vehicles including tractor-trailers, delivery trucks and sanitation vehicles. The project will include lifting the bridge to facilitate inspection and replacement of deteriorated bridge components and the installation of protective materials to mitigate future wear on the bridge. Traffic control and safety measures during construction are also figured into the project’s estimated cost.

— Information from the Office of Governor Kay Ivey