U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, announced Wednesday that Marshall County has been awarded a $16.17 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the Swayback Bridge on Hustleville Road.
The award is the only BUILD grant awarded in Alabama this year, “making it a significant investment not only for Marshall County but for the entire state,” Aderholt’s office said.
The project will replace the existing Swayback Bridge and realign about 2,000 feet of Hustleville Road. The new bridge will be about 1,000 feet long and 40 feet wide and will include widened shoulders, improved roadway geometry, enhanced safety features, and the relocation and upgrade of a water line beneath the bridge deck.
“This is tremendous news for Marshall County and for the thousands of residents, school buses, emergency vehicles, farmers, and businesses that depend on the Swayback Bridge every day,” Aderholt said. “Anyone who has driven this stretch of road understands why this project has been such a priority. Replacing this aging bridge will make travel safer, improve reliability, and strengthen an important transportation corridor for years to come.”
Last year, Aderholt wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urging the Department of Transportation to give strong consideration to Marshall County’s BUILD grant application.
“I was proud to advocate for this project and appreciate Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation for recognizing its importance,” Aderholt said. “Competitive grants like BUILD are never easy to secure, which makes this award especially meaningful. The fact that Marshall County received Alabama’s only BUILD grant this year speaks to both the strength of this application and the critical need for this investment.”
Aderholt also commended the Marshall County Commission and local officials for their leadership in developing the project.
“I want to congratulate the Marshall County Commission, Commission Chairman John Young and everyone who worked tirelessly to bring this application together,” Aderholt said. “Their persistence and vision made today’s announcement possible. I look forward to seeing construction begin and to the lasting benefits this project will provide for the people of Marshall County.”
The BUILD grant program provides competitive federal funding for nationally and regionally significant transportation projects designed to improve safety, mobility and economic opportunity.
