IMPROVEMENT: Construction at Crossroads a big upgrade, according to Taheri

By Marla Jones, Reporter

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Many Rainsville residents will notice that work has begun at the Rainsville crossing of Highways 35 and 75. This endeavor is a federal project with eighty percent of the cost coming from federal funds, and twenty percent coming from state money.

Work began last Monday on a federally and state funded project at the intersection of Highways 75 and 35 in Rainsville. Concrete curbs will be added to the turn lanes.

WireGrass Construction won the contract bid. Work began on Monday, October 16 and will be completed in forty five days. The scheduled work hours are: 6 pm to 6 am daily. The project will start at the median and go out to Deerman Avenue.

Bejan Taheri, the project manager and Rainsville City Councilman, stated that many towns throughout Alabama are upgrading for safety purposes.

"This will be a big improvement for Rainsville," said Taheri, "Allowing handicap accessible ramps to be put at each inlet."

We have contacted the mayor and all city councilmen for an opinion on the project.

"This is not a city project; this is a federal and state government project," said Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt. "They do studies on safety, and I guess this is one of their projects to make the city safer."

"Everyone thinks the city has a part of this, but it's the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). We receive federal funding for the project," Councilman Ricky Byrum commented on the project."We have to do certain federal mandates to get this funding."

"There is good points and bad points to it; it will allow us to do repair where the four-lane ends, at Highway 35 going towards Powell, and also back up towards the trade school to Deerman Avenue. We will be able to redo sidewalks and road repair during this time," said Byrum.

Councilman Marshall Stiefel, had a differing view of the work.

"Some would say this is an improvement, but I disagree. It's like the great Ronald Reagan said, 'The most terrifying words in the English Language are: I'm from the Government, I'm here to help,'" said Stiefel.

Councilman Derek Rosson, said of the project, "The feds are paying for it, and the state's doing it, not the city."

"I don't have a comment on the road project," said Councilman Brandon Freeman, when asked.