FOLEY — City engineer Wendell “Butch” Stokes spoke to the City Council at length during Monday’s work session about the potential for road project grants.

He said the Alabama Department of Transportation has between $200 and $300 million in government funding for such projects through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program. They require a 20 percent match. The catch is that the projects must begin with reasonable speed, he said.

“The first application is due March 30,” Stokes said.

The projects selected will be anounced May 16 and must be contracted out by Dec. 3. He added that there would be two additional application cycles : Oct. 5 and March 29, 2013.

He described several possible projects.

•“We are looking at meshing two projects: widening and improving South Juniper Street from County Road 20 to the Tanger center, and developing a 20-acre detention pond site.” Stokes estimated the road improvement would cost about $675,000 and the pond and drainage, $4 to $5.5 million.

•Extending Fern Avenue to Juniper Street and tying into Poplar. Estimated cost $1.7-$2 million. “This roadway crosses no creeks but would require the city to acquire rights of way, some we already have,” he said.

•Extending 9th Avenue west to Hickory.

•Widening County Road 20 west from McKenzie to Hickory. “We have the rights of way but it would be tight to get a four-lane plus turn-lane road built here.” Cost estimate is $3.3 to $3.8 million. When Mayor John Koniar asked Stokes if Volkert Engineering could have a plan ready to present at the next council meeting (March 19), he said, “Yes.” “A three-lane project would cost less, and I would not recommend a raised curb at this time,” Koniar said.

Stokes added that grant submissions not selected March 30 could be resubmitted later.