Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
On Monday, August 26, Governor Kay Ivey visited Jasper for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly completed SR-5 bridge over US-78A (SR-69), commonly known as the 9th Avenue bridge. The event marked the opening of a key infrastructure project aimed at enhancing mobility, safety, and economic growth in Jasper and Walker County.
Governor Ivey was joined by U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, and Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) West Central Region Engineer Wallace McAdory. Each commented on the project’s significance to the Walker County community and the state of Alabama.
“It’s always a great day in Alabama when we gather to celebrate another project that enhances our infrastructure,” Ivey said. “This new bridge here in Jasper is just another step in our journey of rebuilding Alabama. I’ve said many times before that investing in our infrastructure across the entire state creates a better future for all Alabamians.”
“It’s a great day when you have this kind of infrastructure project for the people of our community — for the people of Walker County and Jasper — that’s culminated with the excitement of what we have today,” Reed said. “I could not be any more pleased about this.”
The project, contracted to Wright Brothers Construction Co. for $8.8 million, was completed four months ahead of schedule, with construction taking approximately six months. The bridge officially opened to traffic on Tuesday, August 27.
The project, overseen by ALDOT, received approximately 80% of its funding from the federal government. In addition to the bridge, the project includes a redesign of the intersection of Alabama Highway 5 and Highway 195, with work expected to continue for several more weeks.
This bridge project is part of a larger initiative under Governor Ivey’s administration to invest in Alabama’s infrastructure. $1.4 billion has been allocated statewide, including $2.3 million through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) across all 67 counties. WL
