FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Contact: Lori Irving, Telephone: (202) 366-0660
FHWA 5-04a

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $20.6 Million for Alabama Highway Projects

Investment Will Add Highway Lanes in Birmingham, Fund 15 Other Projects

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced that newly released funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will help reduce congestion, enhance safety and improve traffic flow at key transportation projects around the state. The Bush administration is providing more than $20.6 million for construction of additional lanes on Interstate 65 near Birmingham, an interchange on Interstate 565 near Huntsville and 14 other Alabama transportation projects.

"Investing in Alabama's highways is the best way to get people to their jobs, families to their homes and goods to market," Secretary Mineta said.

Several of the projects will ease congestion on some of the state's most heavily traveled roads. The Bush administration has slated $2.9 million for the additional I-65 lanes and $580,000 for the new I-565 interchange. Other projects include more than $1.4 million for ferryboats that will provide service between Dauphin Island and the Fort Morgan Peninsula and almost $300,000 to improve streets in downtown Clayton.

"The funding we're announcing today is an investment in the transportation infrastructure of Alabama and the region," said FHWA Administrator Mary Peters. "The President understands that these investments are important to our quality of life and to keep our economy moving."

The following table shows the programs and projects funded by these grants

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FHWA Press Room