By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A construction project to four-lane a section of Alabama 119 in Alabaster will begin within the next two years, city leaders said after the project received state funding on July 24.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry said the city and the Alabama Department of Transportation have already begun preliminary work on the project, and said the public can expect to see “dirt moving” on the project within 24 months.

During a July 24 visit to Calera, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announced the third and final round of funding for the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program.

Included on the list was a nearly $10.3 million project to four-lane the portion of Alabama 119. About $8.2 million will be provided through ATRIP funds, bringing the local match to a little more than $2 million.

“We want to thank Governor Bentley and the ATRIP selection committee for agreeing to fund this project. This has been a project worked on by internal members of our team for some time and would not be a reality without the assistance of Representative Mike Hill and Senator Cam Ward,” Henry wrote in a press release. “These two members of our local delegation worked tirelessly behind the scenes to set up meetings wherein the City was able to share its vision and need for this corridor.”

The city has set aside money to match the widening project, and Alabaster already is working with ALDOT and the Shelby County Highway Department to add a new traffic signal to the Shelby County 80-Alabama 119 intersection.

“Since the City was awarded the entire widening project, sooner than initially planned, we will reassess the scope of the signal project to ensure tax dollars are utilized as judiciously as possible,” read the city press release.

City leaders previously said widening Alabama 119 could spur economic development south of the Publix shopping center.

Also included on the list was a $434,700 project to repave Shelby County 44 between Shelby County 17 and U.S. 31. The state will provide $347,760, bringing the local match to $86,940.