County Commission | The Magazine December 2018 | Page 35

Voices from the
County Family
Q
From your point of view, why is
it critically important to address
the “Silent Crisis” of crumbling
county roads and bridges?
David Smyth Crenshaw County
First Vice President, Association of
County Administrators of Alabama
A
Crenshaw County is extremely
grateful for the ATRIP &
RAMP programs, but we are still in
desperate need of another program
of this magnitude for our local
infrastructure. We have replaced
numerous bridges that were unsafe
for our citizens and our children on
school buses; however, we still have
depreciating farm-to-market roads
that need immediate attention.
DeAndrae Kimbrough Perry County
President, Association of County
Engineers of Alabama
A
In general, paved roads are said to have a 15-year lifespan, and this chip seal road is
dangerously deteriorated after about 25 years of use. This section of Lawrence County
173 is just outside the county seat and serves 39 homes, a plant nursery and land used to
produce row crops, cattle and timber. Photo: Lawrence County
Infrastructure funding is an
issue of safety — of life and
death. The conditions of county
roads and bridges and the lack of
funding to maintain them cannot be
overemphasized. County Highway
COUNTY COMMISSION | 35