Marshall County seeks $17.7 million BUILD grant to replace Swayback Bridge; public hearing held

During a public hearing, Marshall County staff presented a U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant application that would demolish and replace the existing Swayback Bridge on Huntsville (Hussleville) Road, realign the approach to reduce hazardous vertical curvature, and provide wider lanes and shoulders. The application requests $17,678,952 and asserts the project meets BUILD criteria without requiring a local match because of the corridor’s economic profile.

Staff described the existing bridge as approximately 470 feet long and 20 feet wide with limited lane and shoulder width. Presentation materials cited an average daily traffic count of roughly 4,000 vehicles (with 10% trucks) from the last count and a crash history of two fatalities and 24 injuries between 2016 and 2025. Staff said the proposed replacement would be longer (estimates of 800–1,000 feet) and about 40 feet wide to accommodate two 12‑foot lanes plus shoulders.

Speakers at the hearing highlighted safety and operational benefits: James Edwards, chief of the Outer Springs Volunteer Fire Department, said higher traffic counts and past fatal crashes make replacement a safety priority; Eldon Chumley, general manager/CEO of the local utility board (MUB), said replacing the bridge would allow the water main to be upsized from 8 inches to 12 inches and improve service reliability for roughly 20,000–25,000 customers, though MUB may bear the upgrade cost. Staff estimated a detour during construction that would likely route traffic onto State Route 431 and that the bridge closure period after contractor award might last about 14 months.

Commissioners and members of the public asked about horizontal vs. vertical curvature; staff said accident data point to the vertical curve at the bridge as the primary safety driver. Speakers also discussed the effects on trucking routes and weight limits that currently push loaded vehicles onto longer alternates; staff and the engineering consultant (referenced as Goodwyn Mills Cawood) said the proposed alignment would reduce those safety and freight constraints.

The board opened and closed the public hearing and later approved a motion to proceed with the BUILD application process (vote recorded). Staff said the application deadline is Feb. 24 and that the county will notify the public if the grant is awarded.