FOLEY – Construction is expected to begin soon on a new Safe Room that will provide shelter for Foley first responders during hurricanes and other emergencies.
The Foley City Council awarded the construction contract to Roy Lewis Construction, which submitted the lowest bid among 11 companies. The bid of $3.72 million came in significantly below the projected cost, according to Mayor Ralph Hellmich.
“We, the architects and everybody thought it was going to be $5.7 million, so this is really good news,” Hellmich said. “This has been a long time coming, and we’re really excited about it.”
City officials have been working with federal and state agencies since 2020 to secure funding for the project. Most of the cost will be covered by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Safe Room is designed to shelter more than 200 people during a hurricane and will be constructed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour. The facility will include a 400-kilowatt generator capable of operating on either natural gas or diesel fuel, as well as kitchen facilities and other amenities needed to house personnel during emergencies.
The building will be constructed on city-owned property on North Poplar Street, north of the Public Works campus currently under construction and south of East Berry Avenue.
In addition to serving as a shelter, the Safe Room can function as a command post if other city facilities are damaged during a storm or other emergency.