Client Success: St. Clair County, AL Secures $751,857 for Critical Road Safety Improvements 

October 13, 2025

Ambipar | Witt O'Brien's Government Advisory Services is proud to announce that St. Clair County in Alabama has successfully secured $751,857.12 from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) through the FY26 Local Road Safety Initiative (LRSI) program. This significant award will fund life-saving improvements to Kelly Creek Road, a critical corridor that has experienced multiple fatalities in recent years. 

Beginning in early 2023, our team has worked closely with St. Clair County and the St. Clair County Economic Development Council to secure vital funding for improvements in the county and its cities.  The ALDOT award represents the latest success in our ongoing collaboration to support both grant applications and the management of awarded funds. 

“The deep community knowledge gained from our partnership has led to more funding for our area,” said Candice Hill, St Clair County Grants and Leadership Director. “It was a no-brainer for us to engage more deeply with Witt O’Brien’s. This latest award moved our safety project forward at a faster pace.”

The ALDOT Local Road Safety Initiative provides funding to local governments for projects that address safety concerns on roadways under their jurisdiction. St. Clair County's award of $835,396.80 includes a $83,539.68 local match.  

This rural almost 5-mile project targets Kelly Creek Road between Kerr Road North and SR-174. This stretch connects the City of Moody, and the Town of Odenville and was identified in the Heart of Alabama Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan as a High Injury Network. Crash data from 2020-2024 documented 15 total crashes resulting in two fatalities, six suspected serious injuries, and multiple other injuries emphasizing the need for safety improvements. 

The project will implement two high-impact countermeasures to reduce lane departure crashes. The widening of shoulders (by two feet on each side of the roadway) and the placement of rumble strips (raised patterns that create vibration and noise) alert drowsy or distracted drivers that may drift from their lane and provide an opportunity to course correct more safely.  

Working closely with St. Clair County to understand their infrastructure priorities and safety challenges, our team developed a compelling proposal that clearly articulated project benefits and demonstrated urgent need that aligned to ALDOT's objectives of reducing fatalities and serious injuries on local roadways. The success of this application demonstrates how the deep connections built from our partnership bring value in the form of outside state dollars to local projects.

Ambipar | Witt O’Brien’s Director, Zabrina Minor-Gregg states, "This award represents more than funding – it’s an investment in protecting lives and connecting communities. We're honored to play a role in helping St. Clair County secure the resources needed to increase safety in this critical corridor." 

For more information about grant writing services and how Ambipar | Witt O'Brien's Government Advisory Services can support your organization's funding goals, contact our team. 

Managing grants efficiently, without compromising compliance and integrity, can be a challenging task. If your organization is navigating the complexities of grant management, we can help you enhance oversight, streamline processes, ensure outcomes and reduce the risks of waste, fraud, and abuse. Reach out today to learn how our expertise in grants management can ensure your programs meet their goals, stay compliant, and make the best use of taxpayer dollars. 

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