Elmore County moves to seek federal funds for road and bridge work

The Elmore County Commission voted to approve resolutions to widen, level, resurface and traffic-stripe Rifle Range Road, Redland Road and Friendship Road, and to replace the bridge over Channahatchee Creek on Robinson Road during its regular meeting on Jan. 12, 2026. The approvals clear the way for formal applications for federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant program and the Bridge Investment Program (BIP).

Chief Engineer and Operations Officer Luke McGinty cautioned that the county does not yet have grant awards and emphasized that the approvals are preparatory steps. McGinty explained the Robinson Road bridge was selected for the BIP application because it remains one of the county’s last timber-pile bridges, a condition the county will highlight in its application narrative. County officials stressed that approval to apply does not guarantee construction; projects will proceed only if federal funding is secured. The full discussion was made available in the meeting recording.

For Autauga County residents, the moves in neighboring Elmore carry practical implications. Many commuters, commercial vehicles and school routes cross county lines daily; improvements could ease congestion, reduce wear-and-tear on vehicles and shorten emergency response times where the corridors connect. Conversely, if projects win funding, construction periods could bring temporary detours or delays that local drivers should plan for. Road widening and resurfacing typically improve safety and freight movement, while bridge replacement can reduce long-term maintenance costs and close vulnerabilities tied to aging timber structures.

The BUILD program supports multi-modal projects that advance mobility and economic development, and the Bridge Investment Program targets bridge replacement and rehabilitation—federal priorities that have attracted competitive applications nationwide. Smaller counties often tailor applications to federal themes, framing projects to demonstrate safety, connectivity and economic benefit within constrained local budgets.

Next steps are largely procedural: Elmore County will submit applications and await grant decisions. If awards arrive, the county would move into design, permitting and contractor selection before construction starts. Until then, the resolutions represent planning momentum rather than committed spending.

For residents, the practical takeaway is to monitor county announcements for application outcomes and potential construction notices. Better-funded regional roads and a modernized bridge would improve day-to-day travel and resilience, but timelines and budgets remain contingent on federal grant awards.