BY CHRIS HEANEY

VALLEY TIMES-NEWS

CHAMBERS COUNTY, Ala. — For 2018, Chambers County allocated part of its budget toward the improvement of five road projects.

The budget included 5.31 miles of paved road resurfacing, totaling $700,000.

Since the start of summer, four of these projects have been completed with the final one not far from being finished. The completed projects included resurfacing 0.66 miles west on County Road, or CR, 196, known as Brisky Road, from CR 195, 1.2 miles east on CR 500 from CR 279, 2.02 miles south on CR 279 — Ben Brown Road — from US Highway 29 to the Lee County line and 0.89 miles east on CR 388 from Highway 29 to CR 279. Resurfacing on CR 446 from CR 266 west 0.54 miles should be completed soon, according to County engineer Josh Harvill.

“I’m excited for those citizens of our county that will be affected by these projects, but we would like to and need to do more,” County Commissioner David Eastridge said. “Our highway department has provided us with a 10 Year Transportation Plan. That plan has prioritized projects based on the funding that we’re confident in receiving. Unfortunately, it also reflects the needs that exist and the crisis we face countywide as it relates to the condition of our roads.”

The 10-year transportation infrastructure plan for the county was adopted in October of 2015 and prioritized the road and bridge plans through 2025.