Gadsden, AL – Downtown Gadsden sidewalks will soon get more improvements thanks to an $800,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The funding comes from the Transportation Alternatives Programs (TAP) and will be for sidewalk and streetscape improvements along Chestnut St. from South 6th Street to South 5th Street.

“I’m so glad to see our downtown sidewalk project continue,” said Mayor Craig Ford. “I’ve been hearing from a lot of people that we need to make our sidewalks more accessible. We’ve done that with a recent ADA ramp project at the corner of 1st Street and Broad Street, and this grant will let us continue improving the Chestnut Street area.

“When we made the GROW Gadsden master plan, one of the goals was to have a more walkable city, and that means better sidewalks that benefit everyone. Whether you’re walking or using a wheelchair, this project helps people move around downtown Gadsden and access important services,” Ford added.

The overall project cost will be $1.2 million, with the City adding $408,000 in local funds to the $800,000 grant.

The TAP grant is the latest in a series of grants that have already brought more than $1.5 million to improve downtown sidewalks.

Since 2022, sidewalk improvements have been made along blocks of South 7th, South 6th, Walnut and Chestnut streets.

“We want to thank ALDOT and the federal government for helping us continue this project and Heath Williamson, our City Engineer, who has done a wonderful job of applying for these grants,” Ford said.