The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted the City of Huntsville $8,000,000 for rail infrastructure and safety improvements along Old Highway 20.

Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) announced the grant in a statement.

The funding will provide for an overpass initiative to eliminate congestion and improve traffic conditions in light of the under-construction Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA plant, which is located along the two-lane highway and will bring 4,000 new commuters to the highway daily when completed. The project also includes the repair of potholes and resurfacing of roads in order to improve motorists’ travel experience and boost drivers’ safety.

“I am pleased to hear that this funding will allow for improvements to Old Highway 20 in Huntsville,” Shelby said. “This project will preserve and enhance the city’s transportation system for years to come, as well as make necessary safety developments that are crucial to the success and reliability of North Alabama’s rail system.”

The Old Highway 20 project is being conducted in three phases. The first phase began in the fall of 2018 and the second and third phases are anticipated to be completed by late 2020. The project is funded through both local and federal funds.

“These investments in intercity passenger and freight rail will benefit surrounding communities, make grade crossings safer and improve service reliability,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao advised.

This comes on the heels of Shelby announcing two major DOT grant batches that will benefit 25 airports across Alabama. The total airport grant amount was over $46 million and was made possible by Shelby’s historic leadership as chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn