News
In the News: Paving project completed in industrial park
Posted on May 7, 2014
Originally published in the Franklin County Times.
Paving was well under way last week at the Russellville Industrial Park #1 for roads that service several key industries in the Russellville area.
Thanks to a grant from the Industrial Access Road and Bridge Fund, Clark Drive and Sibley Drive were part of a rehabilitating, reconstructing and resurfacing project that will make the roads better for the heavy volume of traffic that travels these two roads daily on their way to several local businesses.
According to Russellville Mayor David Grissom, this grant project was one of the first ones approved by the new city administration.
“This grant project was something Franklin County Development Authority executive director Mitch Mays initiated and brought to our attention because of the industries that would be positively affected by having these roads fixed,” Grissom said.
“Applying for and receiving this grant was one of the first things our new administration did, and I am glad to see this project nearing completion.”
Mays said this road project was necessary in order to help the city’s existing industry.
The businesses and industries that will directly benefit from this project include Distinctive Designs, Style Crest, G&G Steel, Clark Pulley, Warehouse Furniture, and Russellville Spec Building #1, which was recently purchased and leased by Saint-Gobain ADFORS.
“It is our goal to make sure we are doing all we can to support our industries,” Mays said.
“These roads were in bad shape and we need to make sure our businesses have safe and adequate access to their facilities, and this road project will do that.
“We appreciate the city of Russellville for working with us to secure this grant and make this project a reality.”
Councilman David Palmer said the grant the city received was for $120,00 and the project only cost the city $5,900 in engineering costs.
“Because of this grant, we were able to secure necessary funding to complete a much-needed project with very minimal cost to the city,” Palmer said.
He added that other projects, which will be completed through Industrial Access Road and Bridge Fund grants, are currently in the works for other roads in the city as well.
“Our project that is scheduled for Lawrence Street from Alabama 24 to the IHP facilities is currently in the design phase,” Palmer said.
“We received $977,000 for this project that will support the IHP expansion.”
Palmer said a third project of $825,000 was also in the works at Franklin 44 and Franklin 244 to support the Southern Energy Homes plant expansion.
According to David Michael with north Alabama Paving, paving and striping work on Clark Drive and Sibley Drive should be completed by next week.