Improvements to Old Highway 20 in Huntsville-annexed Limestone County could include plans to build a 500-foot bridge over an existing Norfolk Southern line.

Huntsville and Norfolk Southern have applied for a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant to help fund the $8 million project. The council voted Thursday to authorize Mayor Tommy Battle to apply for the grant, which would be funded by the Federal Rail Authority.

As part of planned infrastructure improvements near the site of the future Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing USA site, Old Highway 20 will be five-laned to better accommodate traffic in a rapidly growing area. The road would also be elevated to accommodate the new bridge, which would be built over the train line.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-5th, sent a letter to the United States Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao expressing support for the CRISI grant application. The letter describes the existing at-grade rail crossings as “hazardous” with 61 accidents reported in Madison and Limestone counties since 2009. Twenty-nine of those occurred in Limestone County, he said.

The proposed project would ease congestion and safety issues at the intersection.

“It is important our community stay ahead of possible safety and congestion problems resulting from our rapid growth,” he said. “With Toyota-Mazda employing 4,000 workers who will commute by car every day, the intersection of Old Highway 20 and the Norfolk Southern rail line near the plant site is set to go from bad to worse if not addressed.”

It was not known Friday when the grant award would be announced.