On Thursday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and a group of legislative and local government leaders held a press conference in the Hoover city council chambers to announce three major interstate widening projects in Jefferson and Shelby Counties.
The Governor announced three major road widening and access improvement projects. On Interstate 459, the project will connect Hwy 150 and Shades Crest Road as well as add lanes and options for motorists. Ivey also announced the widening of Interstate 59 in Trussville from the I-459 junction to the Chalkville Mountain Road Exit. The third project is the widening of Interstate 65 in Shelby
County from Alabaster to Calera.
“It was exciting to think about this announcement as I drove up 65 this morning, seeing the progress we are making around Clanton and the progress we have already made around Alabaster,” said Gov. Ivey. “And folks, let me tell you, this is just one of many Alabama roads benefiting from our Rebuild Alabama effort,” said Governor Ivey in her remarks. “We are all familiar with the phrase ‘no man left behind.’ Well, Rebuild Alabama seeks to ensure we have no road, bridge, or area of our state left behind.”
The Shelby County widening of I-65 from Alabaster to Calera, which runs from Exit 238 to Exit 231, will be especially costly as this project includes six bridges over rail tracks and two bridges over County Road 26.
The Shelby County Commission, the City of Alabaster, the City of Calera, and 58 Inc. are providing a total of $20 million in local matching funds, with the remaining funds coming from the state of Alabama and ALDOT’s funds. The federal government will then provide dollars to finish the project.
In Hoover, ALDOT is constructing a new interchange to connect Interstate 459 to Highway 150 and South Shades Crest Road in Hoover. The new Hoover Interchange will be located about one mile from the current Exit 10. The City of Hoover has put forward much of the matching funds to draw down federal transportation dollars. The project will cost $120 million.
The widening of Interstate 59 from I-459 to Chalkville Mountain Road will involve six laning four miles of interstate. This project will provide additional capacity in this congested area and accommodate future traffic volumes, including those generated by the Birmingham Northern Beltline. This project has an estimated cost of approximately $80 million in ALDOT funds.
“We have been working a long time to make these announcements possible –projects totaling about a half a billion dollars,” said Gov. Ivey. “These are wise investments to Rebuild Alabama, and I am proud to get dirt churning on these all within the year.”
Ed Austin is the Chief Engineer at the Alabama Department of Transpiration (ALDOT).
“It was her leadership, as well as many of the legislators here today, that led to passage of the Rebuild Alabama Act, which allowed us to do what we are doing,” Austin said. “This is just one of the many projects we are doing through Rebuild Alabama.”
“I am proud to have dirt churning with these projects in the next year,” said Ivey. “I told ALDOT to finish these projects as quickly and expeditiously as possible.”
Austin said that all three of these projects are sections of interstate where more than 65,000 vehicles a day travel.
“The surveying has already begun,” Austin said. “The design has also begun.”
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said, “It is an exciting day for those of us in Hoover.”
“The vision for this project began 20 years ago,” Brocato said. “We split the cost with ALDOT approximately 50:50 (on the Hoover project),” Brocato said. “When local government and state government work together, we can make great things happen for citizens.”
Brocato warned that there will be “significant risks for motorists” and slower travel times beginning next year as all three of these projects will be underway at the same time.
“The interchange will alleviate congestion at our existing ramps,” Brocato said. “This project will also allow for further economic development opportunities for both Jefferson and Shelby Counties.”
Trussville Mayor Buddy Choate said, “Trussville has been the fastest growing city in Jefferson County for the last ten years
with over 26,000 residents. 65,000 cars a day are driving on a two-lane road.”
Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight is also the President of the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama.
Knight warned that construction will impact motorists’ commute times in the next year but, in the long run, will improve transportation times in Jefferson County and across the region.
“That (widening of I-59) will also be very important when that Northern Beltline reaches around there,” Knight said.
The Chairman of the Shelby County Commission, Kevin Morris, thanked Gov. Ivey for “all the small projects that have already happened.”
“It was under your leadership,’ Commissioner Morris said of the Rebuild Alabama Act and the tax increase in fuel taxes that funded that.
“We have missed opportunities because of that bottleneck on I-65,” Commissioner Morris said. “It will generate huge opportunities for our area, but also all of Alabama. Each of these projects will benefit every resident of the state of Alabama.”
In 2019, Governor Ivey signed into law the historic Rebuild Alabama Act, her legislative plan to address the state’s pressing infrastructure issues by raising fuel taxes in order to generate more than $170 million dollars in state transportation funding. Rebuild Alabama has allowed the state to resurface 400 miles of roadways and fund 234 new road and bridge projects spread across all
67 counties. “Improving Alabama’s infrastructure is one of my top priorities as governor,” stated Governor Ivey.
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