This is the seventh in a series highlighting the people and work behind all eight districts that make up ALDOT’s West Central Region.
Serving Fayette and Lamar counties, the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Fayette District is rooted in close-knit communities with a deep sense of purpose.
Once hubs for textile manufacturing and coal mining, these counties are now supported by agriculture, timber and small-town industry. Though rural, it’s far from isolated. The district maintains more than 570 lane miles across the two counties, including vital connectors like SR-17, SR-171/US-43 and SR-13.
District Administrator Brian Latham brings 33 years of combined city, county, consultant and ALDOT experience to the role. Latham has served the district since 2012 and oversees 31 employees across maintenance and construction. He leads the Fayette District that has a reputation for doing more with less.
“We have a small workforce, and one of the smallest budgets in the state to operate from, but we have maintenance crew and office staff that perform at a level second to none,” Latham said. “Integrity determines character, and both are demonstrated in the work ethic of our people.”
Fayette’s crews handle routine maintenance daily, but they’re also first responders when winter weather, storms, crashes or other emergencies hit. Whether it’s patching pavement, clearing storm debris or assisting with lane closures, they’re on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
“The maintenance workers in the Fayette District deserve recognition for the difficult, changing and diverse work that we ask them to perform,” Latham said. “…Working conditions can be extreme. The cold, heat and storms are not always ideal to work in, but it never curbs their effort or desire to get the job done. When it comes to highway maintenance, they are experts.”
Despite the district’s size, its helpful spirit is strong. Many of its employees have lived in the area their entire lives. They now maintain the same roads they grew up driving and serve neighbors they’ve known for years.
“Our employees are friends and neighbors,” Latham said. “They have a vested interest in doing the best job they can to keep our routes safe.”
