Industrial Access Road and Bridge Program

The Industrial Access Program, administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), provides targeted infrastructure support to facilitate economic development across the state of Alabama. Grounded in Section 23-6-1(5) of the Code of Alabama, this program offers funding for public access improvements to support eligible industrial projects. Retail operations are expressly excluded from eligibility, reinforcing the program’s economic development focus on job creation and capital investment through industrial expansion. The intent is to enable public access via newly constructed or improved roadways that benefit qualifying industrial ventures. Projects funded through this program must be situated on public rights-of-way and must adhere to applicable design and construction standards required for state-funded transportation infrastructure. Eligible infrastructure may lie on state, county, or city-maintained roads, and must remain open to regular public use. The city or county that sponsors the project assumes responsibility for maintaining the completed facility, unless the improvements occur on a state-maintained roadway, ensuring long-term operational sustainability. A central stipulation for accessing the Industrial Access Program is that a business must be making a new investment and creating jobs. Additionally, before a qualifying project is officially placed in service, the sponsoring entity—or its local development agency—must notify the Alabama Department of Commerce of its intent to claim incentives under Section 41-9-202.1 of the Code of Alabama. Since October 9, 2008, every application must include an acknowledgment letter from the Secretary of Commerce confirming this notification. Application deadlines align with the quarterly meetings of the Industrial Access Road and Bridge Corporation’s Board of Directors. For 2025, application deadlines are January 3, April 4, and August 1, with corresponding board meetings in March, June, and October. This cadence continues annually through at least 2027, suggesting a consistent recurring funding cycle. Applicants must submit their completed applications prior to the stated deadlines to be reviewed at the upcoming board meetings. Applications are available in both Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats, with fillable online and print versions. The process requires the sponsoring government entity to complete, sign, and submit the form for consideration. For further assistance or program-related questions, applicants are directed to contact Edward Austin, P.E., at 334-242-6318 or the ALDOT general office at 334-353-6554. No specific evaluation criteria or performance reporting requirements are mentioned in the source material, but state standards for design and construction compliance are mandatory. Given the fixed meeting dates and application requirements, the Industrial Access Program operates on a regular annual schedule with a well-documented review and award process. The recurrence of deadlines and board meetings enables municipalities and counties to plan submissions well in advance to support timely infrastructure improvements that enhance economic development in Alabama.