Assistant Metro Editor
Calhoun County has identified seven road and bridge projects to be carried out using $10 million from the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.
County officials delivered plans for the projects Thursday to the state Emergency Management Agency.
The county has until Sept. 1, 2005, to complete the projects, which include paving Mudd Street in western Calhoun County and repairing bridges on Gate 8 Road, Mudd Street, Alexandria-Jacksonville Road, Ball Play Road, Old Downings Mill Road and Wellington Road.
The projects were selected from a list of 19 based on their importance to a potential evacuation in the case of an accident or incident at the Anniston Army Depot’s chemical weapons stockpile, said County Engineer Charles Markert.
Markert said although many projects on the initial list are in the pink zone, where residents likely would shelter in place, a small accident could force a resident evacuation or a depot evacuation. An emergency management official said first responders also would have better access to residents sheltering in place during an emergency if the projects are done.
The focus is on bridges.
“These are all bridges that are posted or are narrow,” Markert said. “And if we replace them, we increase the chance of evacuation being done safely.”
Though costs won’t be known until the county opens bids, Markert estimates the projects’ cost at around $10 million.
The rest of the projects would be paid for with county money or another CSEPP award.
Markert also has asked the county to hire an outside engineering firm to oversee the effort.
“We basically have 18 months to get the money spent,” Markert said. “And I don’t think it will be possible with the workload we have now to take on this workload and get it done in time.”
Markert said detours of less than one mile will be used during the bridge projects. If detours had to be longer than that, a temporary bridge could be built to eliminate the possibility that a project could slow an evacuation.
The county engineer said right-of-way or environmental issues may delay the projects. Alternate projects could be completed if such issues arise, he said Markert hopes to approach the commission with a scope of work and a strategy to start working on the projects in the next week or so.
The list has the support of the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency.
Dan Long, the EMA director, met with Markert recently to discuss the plan.
“I had no problem with the work plan and procedures and what orders they want to do them in,” Long said. “I support it 100 percent.”
Commission Chairman Robert Downing said Thursday’s meeting with the state EMA went well and that county officials are finishing the last paperwork for transferring the money.
“We delivered the agreement and briefed the state EMA on the plans for the funds and how they are to be accounted for, so that we can establish cooperative accounting procedures so there is no question about any of the accounting of these funds,” Downing said. “It was a cooperative meeting where we started laying the groundwork for the relationship in the future.”