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“CONGRATULATING MR. RONNIE POIROUX ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E425 on March 14, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONGRATULATING MR. RONNIE POIROUX ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT
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HON. JO BONNER
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 14, 2008
Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor Mr. Ronnie Poiroux on the occasion of his retirement after a 37-year public service career with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of South Alabama, Ronnie joined ALDOT in 1971 as an engineering assistant. Six years later, he was named assistant division maintenance engineer, a position in which he supervised 32 employees. In this capacity, Ronnie was charged with bridge inspection and repair, resurfacing, paint striping, traffic signals, and truck weighing. Just months after this promotion, Ronnie was given the additional responsibilities of overseeing tunnels and lift span bridges, including the supervision of an additional 45 employees.
In 1982, Ronnie was promoted to maintenance engineer for the Ninth Division. ALDOT's Ninth Division encompasses a large portion of the First Congressional District, including Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, and Conecuh counties. As maintenance engineer for the Ninth Division, Ronnie supervised and administered the railroad safety projects, division resurfacing projects and paved shoulder projects in southwest Alabama. Ronnie managed bridge inspections and helped establish priorities for bridge replacement projects. He also administered outdoor advertising as well as the interstate logo program.
Ronnie was promoted to division engineer for the Ninth Division in 1994, a position he held until his retirement 14 years later. As division engineer, Ronnie supervised numerous projects in southwest Alabama, including: $900 million in construction and maintenance projects; $200 million in preliminary engineering, right of way acquisition and utility relocations; the opening of I-165; completion of the I-165 connector and Bay Bridge relocation to Cochrane Africatown Bridge; completion of replacement bridges over Fish River and Dog River; hurricane evacuation routes and emergency evacuations of south Alabama; preliminary design and planning of proposed Mobile Bay bridge; redesign and construction of the new I-10 interchange in Irvington as well as the connector to Bayou La Batre; the widening of Highway 98; design and construction of Alabama 113 from I-65 to Flomaton; completion of additional lanes and widening projects including Alabama 287 and Alabama 59 in Baldwin County, U.S. 31 in Escambia County and Schillinger Road/Alabama 158 in Mobile County; creation of the award winning Gopher Tortoise Preserve in Mobile County; the installation of osprey nesting platforms in Mobile and Baldwin counties; and construction of Mobile's Traffic Management Center and installation of a fog detection system for the I-10 Bayway Bridge.
Madam Speaker, it is clear Ronnie Poiroux has left an indelible mark on southwest Alabama, and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating a dedicated professional and friend to many throughout Alabama. I know Ronnie's colleagues, his family, and his many friends join with me in praising his accomplishments and extending thanks for his many efforts over the years on behalf of southwest Alabama and the entire state.
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