Athens council approves $1.89M TAP sidewalk, $1.00M Day Lane contract and adopts Rebuild Alabama plan

Athens City Council on Aug. 25 approved multiple transportation and street projects, including a $1,889,144 contract for a sidewalk and pedestrian bridge along U.S. 31, a $1,000,641.76 contract to build a new city street called Day Lane, and a transportation plan under the Rebuild Alabama Act estimating the city’s FY25–26 allocation at approximately $311,923.20.

The council approved construction engineering and inspection (CE&I) services with Morrell Engineering at a negotiated price of $187,353.05. Michael Griffin, a city staff member who presented the items, said the CE&I fee was a negotiated professional services price under Alabama law and that the city would return to council if costs looked likely to exceed the estimate. “If item M is not passed, then L won’t go into effect,” Griffin said, explaining the sequencing between the construction contract and the CE&I authorization.

The council authorized a $1,889,144 contract with Miller & Miller Construction Inc. for TAP‑funded sidewalk work along the western side of State Route 3 (U.S. 31) from Elm Street to Juniper Circle. The project includes a pedestrian bridge over Swan Creek, traffic‑signal improvements and a southbound left‑turn lane into the Sportsplex. The council record notes the…