Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has unveiled 254 road and bridge revamp projects in the state’s rural counties as part of the Rural Assistance Match Program (RAMP).

RAMP enables new counties to take part in the state-wide road improvement initiative, the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP).

The programme includes the repair or replacements of bridges that primarily carry school traffic.

With the new announcement, all 67 Alabama counties will receive ATRIP funding; previously, only 61 of 67 counties had obtained the funding.

"The programme includes the repair or replacements of bridges that primarily carry school traffic."

Governor Bentley said that ATRIP is already supporting communities across the state, and the new RAMP funding will allow every county in Alabama to have better roads.

"As we improve roads and bridges in rural areas, we’ll make those communities more attractive to companies that are looking for places to build and expand."

"These companies need good infrastructure to transport their products; that’s exactly what ATRIP is giving them," Bentley added.

ATRIP was set up in 2012 to allow local areas the access funding needed for required road and bridge improvements.

The RAMP initiative, which began to complement ATRIP, is applicable to counties that are not able to meet the 20% local funding match required to participate in ATRIP.

Under RAMP, counties and cities are eligible to get up to $1m in state funds to match an additional $4m in federal funds.