The Cost of Doing Nothing A Report On Alabamas Crumbling County Infrastructure Web

THE COST OF
DOING NOTHING
A Report on Alabama’s
Crumbling County Infrastructure
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..........................................................................................................3
Which Roads/Bridges Must Counties Maintain?.............................................4
Just How Terrible Are County Roads and Bridges?.......................................5
How Does County Infrastructure Impact Our Daily Lives?...........................7
Why Can’t Counties Afford to Maintain Their Infrastructure?.....................8
How Much Must We, as a State, Invest in Our Local Infrastructure?.........10
How Does This Infrastructure Crisis Impact My County?.............................11
Autauga - Choctaw.........................................................................................12-23
Clarke - Dale.....................................................................................................24-34
Dallas - Henry...................................................................................................35-45
Houston - Madison.........................................................................................46-56
Marengo - Randolph......................................................................................57-67
Russell - Winston............................................................................................68-78
*The purpose of this report is to raise awareness about the current and future state of
county infrastructure in Alabama and facilitate an infrastructure investment to prevent
further endangerment of the safety and well-being of Alabama residents.
The data shared in this report was collected from all 67 counties and from state educational
institutes and national research organizations.
Doing nothing:
“The absence of all magnitude or quantity”
Since 1992, for Alabama’s roads and bridges,

there’s been an absence of magnitude or quantity. We’ve gotten by.
We’ve patched potholes. We’ve pieced together culverts.
We’ve used tar and gravel to keep school buses on their appointed routes.
We’ve replaced a bridge or two, especially when we could
get federal money to cover most of the costs.
We’ve used innovative ways to recycle asphalt and put it back on the roads.
We’ve pooled our buying power to save money on equipment.
We’ve cut our workforce by more than 30 percent. We’ve done the best we could.
But, in reality, we’ve done nothing.

We’ve done nothing to move our state forward,
nothing to keep up with our neighboring states, nothing to make us competitive,
nothing to support our agricultural and forestry industries.
We’ve tried to do something — many, many times.

But the answer has always been the same — wait another year or two;
be more efficient; come up with better ideas; trim your workforce. Do nothing.
This publication shows in graphic form the real cost of doing nothing.
This publication turns the cost of doing nothing into numbers, charts and diagrams.
And each of these tells a story of a state that’s waited so long
that its network of roads and bridges is dangerous —
quite frankly, more of a liability than a resource — in many places.
What this publication can’t tell is the story behind the numbers.
Association of County Commissions of Alabama 3

WHICH ROADS/BRIDGES
MUST COUNTIES MAINTAIN?
Alabama’s transportation network, in great part, is maintained by its
67 county governments, each operating independently with a limited
budget for both maintenance and construction of paved and unpaved
roads and bridges.
PAVED road miles unpaved road miles

COUNTY road 44,788 15,699
miles TO
MAINTAIN Among Alabama’s centerline road miles, 62% is maintained
by Counties, 27% by the State, and 11% by Cities.
60,487 62% Counties 27% State 11%

Cities
COUNTY BRIDGES Among Alabama’s bridges, more than 54% is maintained by

Counties, more than 36% by the State, and more than 9% by Cities.
TO MAINTAIN
8,661 +54% Counties +36% State +9%

Cities
*Additional Source: Alabama Transportation Institute

JUST HOW TERRIBLE ARE
COUNTY ROADS AND
BRIDGES?
No resurfacing material in existence is built to withstand the daily traffic
of school buses, first responders, farmers, loggers and private citizens for
114 years — and 114 years is the current cycle at which we are resurfacing
county roads in Alabama — a state where the aforementioned daily
traffic, coupled with our well-known dramatic fluctuations in the weather,
can easily wreak havoc on local infrastructure.
The asphalt used on Alabama county roads has a life expectancy of around
15 years, after which time the deterioration of a road becomes noticeably
visible. And while counties have used innovative resurfacing methods, such
as chip and seal methods, to stretch their dollars and make their county
roads safer for longer, a severe lack of funding in all 67 counties has forced
counties into this dangerous 114-year resurfacing cycle.
All the same, the material from which Alabama bridges are constructed
has a life expectancy of around 50 years, after which time most of
these bridges are receiving weight restrictions — causing detours for
school buses, first responders and industry leaders — and nearing a
“deficient” state. But the rising cost of construction, along with the
decreasing value of counties’ infrastructure dollars, has resulted in more
than 45 percent of current county bridges being 50+ years old — and
less than 2 percent are scheduled for replacement within the next 5
years. Certainly, more bridge closings and detours are on the way if this
insufficient funding trend continues.

County Roads should be on a 15-year resurfacing cycle,
WHICH MEANS RESURFACING 2,986 MILES ANNUALLY.
48% of paved county roads

have been resurfaced, patched
or constructed since 2000.
Over the next 5 years, only 3,693
miles of 44,788 paved county road
52% of paved county
roads have not been
miles will be resurfaced.
Some high-traffic roads worked on
since 2000 will need resurfacing
touched since 2000. ahead of the 15-year cycle because
of their frequent use.
COUNTIES ARE NOW ON A 114-YEAR

RESURFACING CYCLE, WHICH MEANS YOUR
FAMILY IS MORE LIKELY TO WELCOME 5
GENERATIONS BEFORE SEEING THE COUNTY
ROAD RESURFACED IN FRONT OF THE
FAMILY HOME WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
Bridges should be on a 50-year replacement cycle.

OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, LESS THAN 2% OF COUNTY BRIDGES WILL BE REPLACED.
17% of county 83% of county

bridges have
bridges have not
45% of county
been replaced bridges are
been touched
or constructed 50+ years old.
since 2000.
since 2000.

HOW DOES COUNTY
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACT
OUR DAILY LIVES?
Safety of Residents health of economy

More 50+ year-old bridges Manufacturing, farming and
increases the likelihood of weight logging are top industries in
limits, which means slower Alabama, and county infrastructure
response time for first responders plays a critical role in the logistics
and more detours for school buses. of delivering their goods to market.
Annually, $432 billion in goods
61% of fatalities occur in rural are shipped to and from sites in
areas rather than urban. Travel time Alabama, mostly by truck.**
to trauma centers plays a critical
role, increasing the importance of Solid transportation
direct routes for ambulances.* infrastructure is critical to business
site selectors and continues to be
Large manufacturers build an economic development weak
sites in rural areas, often leaving link for Alabama.
*Alabama Transportation Institute
thousands of employees to travel **Alabama Transportation by the Numbers
county roads on a daily basis.
Infrastructure exists to allow our communities to run efficiently and safely. Yet, after
nearly 30 years of insufficient funding to Alabama’s 67 county governments, county
roads and bridges are gaining notoriety for quite the opposite of their intended
purpose. In 2019, the lives of nearly 700 Alabamians are lost too soon every year on
our county roads; fire trucks and ambulances are forced to take longer routes to avoid
weight-restricted county bridges; residents are dangerously dodging the potholes and
deteriorating shoulders of county roads on their way to work every day; school children
and residents are spending countless hours detouring around county bridges in need of
replacement; and new jobs and new revenue are being given to other states because of
our infrastructure’s inability to move industry products.

WHY CAN’T COUNTIES
AFFORD TO MAINTAIN
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE?
Unlike cities, counties in Alabama cannot establish a fuel tax to fund the
maintenance and construction of their roads and bridges; approval from the
Alabama Legislature is required. Therefore, county infrastructure budgets
rely heavily on their share of the state gasoline tax, especially since counties
currently do not receive a share of the state’s diesel fuel tax.
Alabama’s gas tax was last raised in 1992 — by a nickel. Since then,
Alabama has seen a rise in inflation rates, construction costs, population,
registered vehicles, miles driven, system capacity and fuel efficiency —
all of which have contributed to the 27-year decimation of “funding” for
county infrastructure.
Working with what is essentially less than a 1992 budget, counties are
clearly far from capable of maintaining their 44,788 miles of paved roads
and 8,661 bridges when, in 2019, it costs an estimated $165,000 to repave
a mile of county road and an estimated $605,000 to replace a county
bridge. Not to mention, along each of these 60,478 road miles and 8,661
bridges — counties must expend time and funds to cut grass and brush,
clean and manage access to the right-of-way, maintain traffic control signs
and perform many other commonly disregarded, yet time-consuming and
costly, duties.

FROM 1990 - 2015 IN ALABAMA:
Population registered vehicles

has increased 20% have increased 46%
Miles driven have increased 57% System capacity has increased 14%
Since 2003, inflation on Time-consuming and costly maintenance
road and bridge on all roads – paved and unpaved –
construction also includes:
has increased Mowing grass and cutting brush along
roadways
twice as much as the
Managing access to county rights-of-way
consumer price index. for driveways and utilities
Maintaining traffic control signs
Improvements Cleaning ditches
in fuel efficiency Administering subdivision
regulations, where enacted
continue to undercut
Removing disaster debris
funding for necessary
from the right-of-way
infrastructure.
*Additional Source: Alabama Transportation Institute
HOW MUCH MUST WE,
AS A STATE, INVEST
IN OUR OWN LOCAL
INFRASTRUCTURE?
ROADS
$492,668,000
is needed annually by counties to
keep roads on a 15-year cycle.
Counties currently receive $112,838,408
every year (for the maintenance and
construction of both roads and
bridges) — resulting in a gaping
$379,829,591 shortfall.
BRIDGES
$2,365,821,042
is needed by counties to cover the
cost of replacing the 45% of bridges
that are 50+ years old.
HOW DOES THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE
CRISIS IMPACT MY
COUNTY?
If you were to take a rough, often hazardous, drive through all 67 Alabama
counties, you would quickly realize that the infrastructure crisis is not
isolated within a particular area of the state; certainly, the cost of doing
nothing for 27 years is visible in each and every county.
On the pages that follow is an in-depth look at the infrastructure crisis

occurring within each of Alabama’s counties. The insights revealed
come from a November 2018 survey in which the Association of County
Commissions of Alabama collected data from the Engineering Departments
of all 67 counties.
Based on this data, it was concluded that, on a statewide average, it costs

$165,000 to resurface one mile of county road and $605,000 to replace
one county bridge. (It should be noted that road resurfacing and bridge
replacement costs can fluctuate based on a number of factors, such as the
availability and location of material sources and the number of contractors
willing to serve the area. Bridge replacement costs can also vary based on
lengths and area coverage, but for the purposes of this report, a determined
county bridge average size of 100’ long by 28’ wide was utilized.)
The calculations used to determine these monetary figures were both used
to determine the funding needed by each county to resurface and replace
the recommended number of road miles and bridges, respectively, over the
next 5 years.
The funding reality figure for each county, excluding Mobile and Tuscaloosa,
was based upon the county’s maintenance and operations budget for the
2017 fiscal year. To ensure consistency in analyzing infrastructure funding
across Alabama’s 67 counties, Mobile County’s local pay-as-you-go revenue
was subtracted from its maintenance and operations budget, and Tuscaloosa
County’s figure was based only on the county’s operations budget.

AUTAUGA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
COUNTY ROAD & SYSTEM UPKEEP
BRIDGE SYSTEM Should be resurfaced every 5 years
THE COUNTY MAINTAINS
112 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
667
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
336 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 7.1
BRIDGES
Should be replaced every 5 years
UNDER A
71
BRIDGES - RECOMMENDED
23 OF WHICH ARE 50-YEAR cycle
50+ YEARS-OLD
ANNUAL UPKEEP COST / $$$ NEEDED

$4,554,101.12
$3.7M ROAD RESURFACING (15-YEAR CYCLE) / $858K BRIDGE REPLACEMENT (50-YEAR CYCLE)
THE COST OF DOING NOTHING?

NEED VS. REALITY
112 $4.6M 7.1
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
24 $
$ $346K
1
$
ROAD MILES RESURFACED ANNUAL BRIDGES REPLACED
EVERY 5 YEARS FUNDING EVERY 5 YEARS

BALDWIN
COUNTY, ALABAMA
459 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1567
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,378 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 16.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
163
50+ YEARS-OLD

$17,128,006.79
$15.2M ROAD RESURFACING (15-YEAR CYCLE) / $2M BRIDGE REPLACEMENT (50-YEAR CYCLE)

NEED VS. REALITY
459 $17.2M 16.3
$
$
$
280 $
$
$ $7.2M
$ 5
$
$
$

BARBOUR
COUNTY, ALABAMA
146 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
742
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
438 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 13.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
134
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,437,514.79
$4.8M ROAD RESURFACING (15-YEAR CYCLE) / $1.6M BRIDGE REPLACEMENT (50-YEAR CYCLE)

NEED VS. REALITY
146 $6.4M 13.4
$
$
$
$
$
60 $
$
$
$ $641K
$ 0

BIBB
COUNTY, ALABAMA
128 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
527
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
384 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 6
BRIDGES
UNDER A
60
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,949,155.88

NEED VS. REALITY
128 $4.9M 6
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $960K
16 $
$ 0

BLOUNT
COUNTY, ALABAMA
331 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1134
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
994 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 12
BRIDGES
UNDER A
120
50+ YEARS-OLD

$12,384,311.75

NEED VS. REALITY
331 $12.4M 12
$
$
$
$
$ 6
126 $
$
$ $2.4M
$
$

BULLOCK
COUNTY, ALABAMA
105 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
380
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
315 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 7.6
BRIDGES
UNDER A
76
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,383,530.78

NEED VS. REALITY
105 $4.4M 7.6
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
25 $ $790K
$
$ 0

BUTLER
COUNTY, ALABAMA
168 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
725
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
505 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.1
BRIDGES
UNDER A
101
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,775,679.06

NEED VS. REALITY
168 $6.8M 10.1
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 2
13 $ $448K
$

CALHOUN
COUNTY, ALABAMA
371 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1116
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,112 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 15
BRIDGES
UNDER A
150
50+ YEARS-OLD

$14,044,889.69

NEED VS. REALITY
371 $14M 15
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
75 $ $2.2M
$
2
$

CHAMBERS
COUNTY, ALABAMA
148 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
784
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
443 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 14.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
144
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,613,374.10

NEED VS. REALITY
148 $6.6M 14.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
49 $
$ $1.1M
$
$ 0

CHEROKEE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
257 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
807
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
770 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 12
BRIDGES
UNDER A
120
50+ YEARS-OLD

$9,920,311.75

NEED VS. REALITY
257 $10M 12
$
$
$
$
$
100 $
$
$
$ $766K
$ 0

CHILTON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
178 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
931
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
535 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
102
50+ YEARS-OLD

$7,117,764.99

NEED VS. REALITY
178 $7.1M 10.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $1.5M
14 $
$ 0

CHOCTAW
COUNTY, ALABAMA
133 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
600
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
400 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.1
BRIDGES
UNDER A
101
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,620,679.06

NEED VS. REALITY
133 $5.6M 10.1
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
25 $ 2
$
$757K
$

CLARKE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
99 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
807
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
298 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.5
BRIDGES
UNDER A
95
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,426,163.47

NEED VS. REALITY
99 $4.4M 9.5
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $724K
10 $ 1
$

CLAY
COUNTY, ALABAMA
144 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
680
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
432 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 8.7
BRIDGES
UNDER A
87
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,803,476.02

NEED VS. REALITY
144 $5.9M 8.7
$
$
100 $
$
$
$
$
$
$ $536K 1
$

CLEBURNE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
131 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
720
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
394 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.7
BRIDGES
UNDER A
97
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,506,335.33

NEED VS. REALITY
131 $5.5M 9.7
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 3
$
15 $ $611K
$

COFFEE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
176 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
759
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
528 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 15.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
153
50+ YEARS-OLD

$7,657,147.48

NEED VS. REALITY
176 $7.7M 15.3
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $1.2M
20 $
$ 0

COLBERT
COUNTY, ALABAMA
210 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
660
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
630 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
99
50+ YEARS-OLD

$8,126,507.19

NEED VS. REALITY
210 $8.1M 9.9
$
$
$
$
$
75 $
$
$
$
$387K 0
$

CONECUH
COUNTY, ALABAMA
138 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
810
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
415 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 16.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
162
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,522,920.86

NEED VS. REALITY
138 $6.6M 16.2
$
$
$
$
75 $
$
$ 5
$
$
$950K
$

COOSA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
139 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
600
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
417 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
93
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,710,991.61

NEED VS. REALITY
139 $5.7M 9.3
$
$
$
$
$
$
40 $
$
$ $311K
$ 0

COVINGTON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
210 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1290
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
630 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 28.3 Should be replaced every 5 years
BRIDGES UNDER A
283
50+ YEARS-OLD

$10,350,318.54

NEED VS. REALITY
210 $10.3M 28.3
$
$
$
$
$
$ 11
$
$ $1.6M
$
7 $

CRENSHAW
COUNTY, ALABAMA
94 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
715
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
282 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 13.5
BRIDGES
UNDER A
135
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,733,600.72

NEED VS. REALITY
94 $4.7M 13.5
$
$
$
$
44 $
$
$ 4
$
$ $582K
$

CULLMAN
COUNTY, ALABAMA
445 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1563
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,334 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 15.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
153
50+ YEARS-OLD

$16,523,147.48

NEED VS. REALITY
445 $16.6M 15.3
$
$
$
$
$ 7
$
125 $
$ $3.2M
$
$

DALE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
150 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
540
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
450 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
104
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,206,936.85
$5M ROAD RESURFACING (15-YEAR CYCLE) / $1.3M BRIDGE REPLACEMENT (50-YEAR CYCLE)

NEED VS. REALITY
150 $6.3M 10.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
15 $
$300K
$ 0

DALLAS
COUNTY, ALABAMA
158 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
847
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
475 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
104
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,481,936.85

NEED VS. REALITY
158 $6.5M 10.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
25 $ $1.2M
$
$ 0

DEKALB
COUNTY, ALABAMA
382 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1470
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,145 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 16.7
BRIDGES
UNDER A
167
50+ YEARS-OLD

$14,613,350.52

NEED VS. REALITY
382 $14.6M 16.7
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
70 $
$ $1.5M
$ 0

ELMORE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
273 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1000
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
818 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 12.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
123
50+ YEARS-OLD

$10,484,569.54
$9M ROAD RESURFACING (15-YEAR CYCLE) / $1.5M BRIDGE REPLACEMENT (50-YEAR CYCLE)

NEED VS. REALITY
273 $10.5M 12.3
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 3
$
30 $ $962K
$

ESCAMBIA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
183 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
880
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
550 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
104
50+ YEARS-OLD

$7,306,936.85

NEED VS. REALITY
183 $7.4M 10.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
40 $
$ $580K
$ 0

ETOWAH
COUNTY, ALABAMA
265 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
866
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
794 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
90
50+ YEARS-OLD

$9,821,733.81

NEED VS. REALITY
265 $9.8M 9
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
30 $ $1M 1
$

FAYETTE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
146 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
824
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
437 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 17.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
172
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,885,780.18

NEED VS. REALITY
146 $6.9M 17.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
30 $
$
$315K 0
$

FRANKLIN
COUNTY, ALABAMA
208 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
812
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
625 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
114
50+ YEARS-OLD

$8,252,796.16

NEED VS. REALITY
208 $8.3M 11.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
50 $ $1.6M
$
$ 0

GENEVA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
134 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
909
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
402 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 16.8
BRIDGES
UNDER A
168
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,452,436.45

NEED VS. REALITY
134 $6.4M 16.8
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
20 $
$ $715K
$ 0

GREENE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
224 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1048
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
672 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
94
50+ YEARS-OLD

$8,528,077.54

NEED VS. REALITY
224 $8.5M 9.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 2
$
6 $
$286K

HALE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
128 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
595
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
384 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 13.1
BRIDGES
UNDER A
131
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,807,256.99

NEED VS. REALITY
128 $5.8M 13.1
$
$
$ 9
$
$
$
35 $
$ $1.2M
$
$

HENRY
COUNTY, ALABAMA
170 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
690
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
510 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.5
BRIDGES
UNDER A
95
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,758,163.47

NEED VS. REALITY
170 $6.7M 9.5
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
35 $
$ $395K
$ 0

HOUSTON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
265 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
941
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
794 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 15.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
152
50+ YEARS-OLD

$10,571,061.55

NEED VS. REALITY
265 $10.5M 15.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $3.2M
$
36 $ 1
$

JACKSON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
353 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1100
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,060 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 18.5
BRIDGES
UNDER A
185
50+ YEARS-OLD

$13,895,897.28

NEED VS. REALITY
353 $13.9M 18.5
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
60 $
$1.6M 2
$
$

JEFFERSON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
700 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
2100
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
2,100 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
BRIDGES UNDER A
297
50+ YEARS-OLD

$26,689,521.58

NEED VS. REALITY
700 $26.7M 29.7
$
$
$
$
$ $13.8M
$
$
10
150 $
$
$

LAMAR
COUNTY, ALABAMA
130 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
801
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
391 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
113
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,666,710.23

NEED VS. REALITY
130 $5.7M 11.3
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
25 $
$ $461K 1
$

LAUDERDALE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
431 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1382
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,293 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 18.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
189
50+ YEARS-OLD

$16,507,241.01

NEED VS. REALITY
431 $16.5M 18.9
$
$
$
$
$
150 $
$
$
$2.2M 3
$
$

LAWRENCE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
227 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
864
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
681 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 14.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
142
50+ YEARS-OLD

$9,207,202.24

NEED VS. REALITY
227 $9.2M 14.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
40 $
$ $611K
$ 0

LEE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
225 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
851
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
674 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
109
50+ YEARS-OLD

$8,731,366.51

NEED VS. REALITY
225 $8.7M 10.9
$
$
$
$
7
$ $4.2M
$
$
50 $
$
$

LIMESTONE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
342 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1040
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,027 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 16
BRIDGES
UNDER A
160
50+ YEARS-OLD

$13,230,749.00

NEED VS. REALITY
342 $13.2M 16
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
75 $
$ $1.6M
$ 0

LOWNDES
COUNTY, ALABAMA
108 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
600
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
325 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
94
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,711,077.54

NEED VS. REALITY
108 $4.7M 9.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
32 $
$
$ $350K 1
$

MACON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
114 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
575
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
342 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.1
BRIDGES
UNDER A
101
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,982,679.06

NEED VS. REALITY
114 $5M 10.1
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 2
12 $ $282K
$

MADISON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
467 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1400
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,400 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
BRIDGES UNDER A
252
50+ YEARS-OLD

$18,445,654.68

COUNTY NEEDS
467 $18.5M 25.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

MARENGO
COUNTY, ALABAMA
115 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
646
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
345 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.8
BRIDGES
UNDER A
98
50+ YEARS-OLD

$4,979,421.26

NEED VS. REALITY
115 $5M 9.8
$
$
$
$
$ 5
$
$
$
15 $
$730K
$

MARION
COUNTY, ALABAMA
244 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
937
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
732 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
112
50+ YEARS-OLD

$9,405,624.30

NEED VS. REALITY
244 $9.5M 11.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
20 $
$402K
1
$

MARSHALL
COUNTY, ALABAMA
355 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1168
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,065 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.4
BRIDGES
UNDER A
114
50+ YEARS-OLD

$13,092,796.16

NEED VS. REALITY
355 $13.1M 11.4
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $2.8M
50 $
$ 0

MOBILE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
377 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1402
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,130 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 16.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
162
50+ YEARS-OLD

$14,387,920.86

NEED VS. REALITY
377 $14.4M 16.2
$
$
$
$
$
150 $ $5.2M
$ 4
$
$
$
ROAD MILES RESURFACED *ANNUAL FUNDING BRIDGES REPLACED
EVERY 5 YEARS EXCLUDES PAY-AS-YOU-GO LOCAL TAX EVERY 5 YEARS

MONROE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
119 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
707
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
357 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.8
BRIDGES
UNDER A
98
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,111,421.26

NEED VS. REALITY
119 $5.1M 9.8
$
$ 8
$
$
$
$
$
$
15 $
$723K
$

MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, ALABAMA
184 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
575
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
552 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
BRIDGES UNDER A
205
50+ YEARS-OLD

$8,549,615.91

NEED VS. REALITY
184 $8.6M 20.5
$
146 $
$
$ $5.4M
$
$
$
$
$
$ 0

MORGAN
COUNTY, ALABAMA
340 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1040
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,019 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 12.5
BRIDGES
UNDER A
125
50+ YEARS-OLD

$12,719,741.41

NEED VS. REALITY
340 $12.7M 12.5
$
$
$
$
$
$
97 $ $3.2M 3
$
$
$

PERRY
COUNTY, ALABAMA
119 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
682
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
356 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.1
BRIDGES
UNDER A
111
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,257,538.37

NEED VS. REALITY
119 $5.2M 11.1
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
25 $ $932K
$
$ 0

PICKENS
COUNTY, ALABAMA
131 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
850
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
392 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 15.6
BRIDGES
UNDER A
156
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,197,405.28

NEED VS. REALITY
131 $6.2M 15.6
$
$
$
$
$
$
32 $
$
$ $344K 1
$

PIKE
COUNTY, ALABAMA
156 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
761
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
467 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 15.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
159
50+ YEARS-OLD

$7,058,663.07

NEED VS. REALITY
156 $7.1M 15.9
$
$
$
$ 9
$
$
$
33 $
$ $370K
$

RANDOLPH
COUNTY, ALABAMA
137 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
960
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
410 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 12.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
122
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,984,483.61

NEED VS. REALITY
137 $6M 12.2
$
$
$
$
63 $
$
$
$
$ $737K
$ 0

RUSSELL
COUNTY, ALABAMA
146 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
638
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
439 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 10.8
BRIDGES
UNDER A
108
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,134,280.58

NEED VS. REALITY
146 $6.1M 10.8
$
$
$
$
70 $
$
$
$
$
$827K
$ 0

ST. CLAIR
COUNTY, ALABAMA
225 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
679
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
676 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 6.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
62
50+ YEARS-OLD

$8,185,327.74

NEED VS. REALITY
225 $8.1M 6.2
200 $
$
$
$
$
$ $3.2M
$
$ 1
$
$

SHELBY
COUNTY, ALABAMA
281 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
961
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
844 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 18.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
189
50+ YEARS-OLD

$11,568,241.01

NEED VS. REALITY
281 $11.6M 18.9
$
$
$
$ 11
140 $ $6M
$
$
$
$
$

SUMTER
COUNTY, ALABAMA
117 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
505
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
352 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.5
BRIDGES
UNDER A
115
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,261,882.09

NEED VS. REALITY
117 $5.3M 11.5
$
$
$
$
$
$ 4
$
$ $944K
6 $
$

TALLADEGA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
326 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1058
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
978 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 12.3
BRIDGES
UNDER A
123
50+ YEARS-OLD

$12,244,569.54

NEED VS. REALITY
326 $12.3M 12.3
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 3
$
35 $1.8M
$
$

TALLAPOOSA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
245 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
957
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
735 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 8.2
BRIDGES
UNDER A
82
50+ YEARS-OLD

$9,076,046.36

NEED VS. REALITY
245 $9.1M 8.2
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
40 $
$ $966K
$ 0

TUSCALOOSA
COUNTY, ALABAMA
414 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1606
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
1,241 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
BRIDGES UNDER A
209
50+ YEARS-OLD

$16,176,959.63

NEED VS. REALITY
414 $16.2M 20.9
$
$
$
$
$ 11
$
$7.1 M
$
96 $
$
$
ROAD MILES RESURFACED *ANNUAL FUNDING BRIDGES REPLACED
EVERY 5 YEARS EXCLUDES MAINTENANCE BUDGET EVERY 5 YEARS

WALKER
COUNTY, ALABAMA
325 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1115
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
976 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 9.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
99
50+ YEARS-OLD

$11,932,507.19

NEED VS. REALITY
325 $11.9M 9.9
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ 2
35 $ $845K
$

WASHINGTON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
143 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
873
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
430 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 11.7
BRIDGES
UNDER A
117
50+ YEARS-OLD

$6,144,053.96

NEED VS. REALITY
143 $6.1M 11.7
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
15 $ $380K
$ 0

WILCOX
COUNTY, ALABAMA
130 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
626
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
390 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 7.9
BRIDGES
UNDER A
79
50+ YEARS-OLD

$5,244,788.57

NEED VS. REALITY
130 $5.3M 7.9
$
$
$
$
$ 4
$
35 $
$
$ $582K
$

WINSTON
COUNTY, ALABAMA
194 UNDER A
RECOMMENDED
1062
ROAD MILES - MILES
15-YEAR cycle
583 OF WHICH
ARE PAVED
AND 5.7
BRIDGES
UNDER A
57
50+ YEARS-OLD

$7,101,898.08

NEED VS. REALITY
194 $7.1M 5.7
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
41 $
$ $554K
$ 0

The Cost of Doing Nothing A Report On Alabamas Crumbling County Infrastructure Web

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The Cost of Doing Nothing A Report On Alabamas Crumbling County Infrastructure Web

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THE COST OF

Which Roads/Bridges Must Counties Maintain?.............................................4

Just How Terrible Are County Roads and Bridges?.......................................5

How Does County Infrastructure Impact Our Daily Lives?...........................7

Why Can’t Counties Afford to Maintain Their Infrastructure?.....................8

How Much Must We, as a State, Invest in Our Local Infrastructure?.........10

How Does This Infrastructure Crisis Impact My County?.............................11

Since 1992, for Alabama’s roads and bridges,

But, in reality, we’ve done nothing.

We’ve tried to do something — many, many times.

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 3

PAVED road miles unpaved road miles

60,487 62% Counties 27% State 11%

COUNTY BRIDGES Among Alabama’s bridges, more than 54% is maintained by

8,661 +54% Counties +36% State +9%

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 4

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 5

48% of paved county roads

COUNTIES ARE NOW ON A 114-YEAR

Bridges should be on a 50-year replacement cycle.

17% of county 83% of county

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 6

Safety of Residents health of economy

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 7

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 8

Population registered vehicles

On the pages that follow is an in-depth look at the infrastructure crisis

Based on this data, it was concluded that, on a statewide average, it costs

Association of County Commissions of Alabama 11

ANNUAL UPKEEP COST / $$$ NEEDED