A $14 million federal grant ensures a 3.5-mile stretch of Alabama 157 will four-laned, with work anticipated to begin 2020.

A host of local elected officials gathered at Cullman City Hall for the announcement Friday morning as Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs made the announcement, thanking a wide range of players in securing the grant, including U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby and Doug Jones and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt.

“It’s big, it’s really big,” Jacobs said. “We all know how congested it gets in that area leading to the hospital. That’s a big factor in this grant, plus there was support from the Cullman County Commission, mayors throughout the area, including the City of Arab. This grant is for everyone.”

The estimated cost of the project is $28 million. Jacobs said if the two bridges were not already in place, the grant wouldn’t have been possible.

“Our understanding is this had to be a project that is pretty well ready to start,” Jacobs said. “In 2019, there will be additional engineering work and land acquisitions, but a lot has already been done. All of the money has to be spent by 2025, so the timeline is important in getting this completed.”

State Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, also thanked fellow lawmakers in the local delegation, noting that Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, has worked closely with Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper to win support at the state level.

“This is huge for the hospital, our industries and all of our communities,” Gudger said. “I want to stress how amazing it is to have this group together today, working so closely together without an agenda so that our entire area will benefit.”