Morgan County has received funding for projects in various communities.

The largest project is a $635,551 project to add a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 231 and Alabama 36 in Lacey’s Spring.

State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said the traffic safety at the intersection has been a concern for many years, but he said this will ease a number of those concerns.

The traffic light will stop U.S. 231 southbound traffic coming from Huntsville to allow turning left from Alabama 36 to cross the road and merge into traffic heading northbound. The traffic light, however, will not stop southbound traffic coming off the mountain.

“The residents in the area were concerned if traffic ever backed up at a traffic light there, the 18-wheelers coming off the mountain might not be able to stop,” Orr said. “So, the plan is to keep the northbound traffic moving through the intersection, but the northbound traffic will stop to allow the Highway 36 traffic to merge onto Highway 231 northbound.”

Orr said the project, which was scheduled to begin this week, would reconfigure the roadway to allow for a longer acceleration lane headed northbound along with installation of the traffic light.

Reed Contracting Services has been awarded the U.S. 231-Alabama 36 intersection improvement project.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has also awarded the county a $250,000 community development block grant to build a senior center in Lacey’s Spring.

Orr said the 2,450 square foot facility would also feature a 12-foot by 19-foot safe room for the center.

For the project, the county will provide $75,000 for its local match, $50,000 cash and $25,000 for in-kind services.

Other projects underway or being planned in that district include upgrades to Brindlee Mountain Park and a new senior center in Union Hill.

At Brindlee Mountain Park, Orr said they are reconfiguring the three fields and building a new press box in the center that will service all three fields.

Orr attributes the success of these projects to Commissioner Greg Abercrombie.

“Greg Abercrombie has taken it upon himself to make these quality of life improvements for the people of District 4,” Orr said. “By doing this, it could help make the area more attractive to people who are living or moving into the Huntsville area.”