‘We must continue to ensure that Alabama remains connected’

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Governor Kay Ivey, center, cuts the ribbon on the Alabama Highway 157 four-lane expansion Monday, May 1, 2023. Ivey is joined by local and state elected officials, community members and others. (Tiffany McKoy for The Cullman Tribune)

Ivey attends Hwy. 157 expansion ceremony

CULLMAN, Ala.  – Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday cut the ceremonial ribbon on the completion of the Alabama Highway 157 four-lane expansion project. The ceremony took place at Northbrook Baptist Church, where Ivey was joined by Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs; Cullman Economic Development Agency Governmental Affairs Director Jamie Troutman; Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview; Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman; and Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Good Hope, among others.

According to Troutman, the City of Cullman applied for a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant from the USDOT and was awarded the $14.9 million grant in December 2018. In addition to the BUILD grant, a combination of state, city and other federal funding was used for the project. (Read more at www.cullmantribune.com/2018/12/07/this-is-big-really-big-city-of-cullman-announces-14m-grant-to-complete-hwy-157-4-lane-project)

“As leaders, we are tasked not to just figure out what tomorrow holds, or the next week, or the next year,” said Gudger. “Our job is to make sure that we direct the future of this community for generations to come. This is what 157 and the widening of this road has done…It will allow for future growth and safer travel.”

Said Ivey, “As our economy continues on its record-breaking upward trajectory, we must continue to ensure that Alabama remains connected.” Ivey said the widening of Highway 157 will increase connectivity and accessibility, especially to rural communities.

The project broke ground in October 2020 (www.cullmantribune.com/2020/08/12/aldot-opens-bids-for-highway-157-4-lane-project) and completes a four-lane corridor that runs almost 60 miles from U.S. Highway 278 to Alabama Highway 69 in Cullman, according to Ivey’s office.

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