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Commission approves engineering phase for Kelly Creek/I‑20 intersection; federal funding pitches for US‑411 upgrades
Summary
The commission approved a $357,497 preliminary-engineering contract for intersection and bridge work at Kelly Creek and discussed federal grant prospects for widening and realigning US Highway 411 and a $20.1 million bridge project.
County engineer Dan Dahlke presented a proposal from Saint and Associates to continue preliminary engineering for intersection improvements and the Kelly Creek bridge replacement near Interstate 20. The commission approved the $357,497 contract to be paid from an existing MPO/ALDOT grant of $750,000.
Separately, economic development staff and commissioners described a federal grant strategy for Highway 411 improvements. Candice Hill and commissioners said the county applied to a federal competitive grant program (previously named RAISE, later BUILD) for planning and right-of-way reduction on US‑411 between Park Avenue and Sandy Road, and that federal guidance changes had removed some design requirements (they mentioned 10-foot multi-use lanes, DEI and landscaping elements) that previously expanded costs and right-of-way acquisition needs.
Why it matters: commissioners said the federal changes could reduce necessary right-of-way acquisition and lower an earlier $100 million project estimate — potentially to $65–$70 million if certain multimodal and landscaping mandates are removed. Dahlke told the commission the engineering phase is the first federally-required step and will trigger additional state and federal reviews.
The commission approved the engineering contract unanimously. Commissioners and staff said they will continue pursuing federal funding for both the Kelly Creek bridge and the US‑411 corridor, and they expect federal staff to inspect project sites as part of follow-up.
