MONTGOMERY – More than four years after tornadoes left a wave of destruction in much of north Alabama, some effects are still being felt. Gov. Robert Bentley has announced a $300,000 grant to help alleviate road damage caused by the storm in Lawrence County.
The grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will fund rehabilitation of county roads 23 and 306.
“I am proud of the recovery progress our state has made since the April 2011 tornadoes that destroyed many parts of our state,” Bentley said, “As we continue to rebuild, we should never forget the lives lost, the serious injuries sustained and the disruption that many families suffered. I support this grant so we can continue the process of rebuilding our communities.”
According to the National Weather Service, there were 139 fatalities and 1,998 injuries resulting from the tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011.
Following the tornadoes, removal of heavy debris from areas near County Roads 23 and 306 brought a high volume of heavy vehicles down these roads, leading to surface cracks that allowed water to seep in and weaken the roadbed. The project will rehabilitate, resurface and stripe more than 12,000 feet of the roads.
Bentley notified Bobby Burch, chairman of the Lawrence County Commission, that the grant had been approved. Local funds of $75,000 will supplement the award.
media release/State of Alabama
