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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Commission approved an agreement for a bridge replacement on Highway 25 over Camp Branch Creek and updated an agreement for a bridge replacement on Highway 55 over Norfolk Southern railroad near Sterrett during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, July 8.

During the meeting, the Commission approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with the state of Alabama through the Alabama Department of Transportation for the replacement of the bridge over Camp Branch Creek on Hwy 25 between Columbiana and Calera.

Part of the reasoning behind the bridge replacement is due to safety concerns. The bridge over Camp Branch is 20 feet wide and was built in 1928.

In January, Gov. Kay Ivey announced more than $40 million in state transportation funding to be awarded to cities and counties for various road and bridge projects and included in those projects is the replacement of the bridge over Camp Branch on Hwy 25 and Calera.

Funding for the project was made possible in part thanks to the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II, a program that was created though the Rebuild Alabama Act.

The ATRIP-II funding for the project comes from an annual program that sets aside a minimum of $30 million off the top of the Alabama Department of Transportation’s share of gas tax revenue for projects of local interest on the state highway system.

Estimated project costs for the bridge replacement are $1,862,676 from ATRIP-II funds with a match from Shelby County of $585,000 for a total of $2,447,676. Previous estimates for the replacement tentatively set completion for some time in 2026.

Additionally, the Shelby County Commission updated a construction agreement for a federal aid project with the state of Alabama through ALDOT to cooperate in a bridge replacement on Highway 55 over Norfolk Southern Railroad near Sterrett.

The initial agreement from several years ago budgeted federal funds to $1 million and the Birmingham Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved to reprogram the allocated federal funds to pay 80 percent of the cost of the replacement. However, the lowest bid received was in the amount of $3,237,197.39. As a result, the county increased its funding contribution to up to $840,376.44 for the required 20 percent match as part of the agreement.

During the meeting, County Engineer David Willingham spoke positively of the lowest responsive bidder, The Bridge Builders of Alabama, LLC.

“They are a local group out of Pelham, they’ve been here for many years and do good work, so we’re happy to see them get the job,” Willingham said.

In other news, the Shelby County Commission approved the following during the meeting:

• Fiscal year 2024 budget amendment
• A request from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office regarding fiscal year 2025 vehicle funding
• Expansion architect fees for the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover
• A bid award for ballistic rated helmets for the SCSO
• A bid award for liquid copper sulfate for water services
• A bid for the landfill scale houses water main project
• A 39.74 acre property purchase for the landfill at a cost of $300,000
• Policy for water services leak adjustment