[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING MR. RONNIE POIROUX ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             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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