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photo by Figg Engineering Group
This is an artist's rendering of what the proposed elevated lanes on Highway 280 would look like. This is near the intersection of Highway 280 and Highway 119.
Elevated lanes a possibility on Highway 280
Published Monday, February 16, 2009
HOOVER — Commuters who battle the crowded lanes of Highway 280 every day could see some relief in the near future.
Officials at the Alabama Department of Transportation are conducting traffic studies to look at the feasibility of adding elevated tolled lanes over Highway 280 to serve as an alternative route for motorists.
Preconstruction engineer Lance Taylor said the toll lanes could be the traffic solution officials have been searching for.
Figg Engineering Group
This is what the elevated lanes would look like in Inverness, close to Valleydale Road.
“We’ve tried for several years to come up with a solution to the traffic problems on 280. For over 20 years, we’ve been looking for a solution for that,” he said. “Gov. Riley wanted us to find something the community could live with.”
The Progress 280 Task Force, which focuses on solutions to Birmingham’s traffic congestion problem, called Figg Engineering Group out of Tallahassee, Fla. to suggest ideas. The engineering firm ended up designing the elevated lanes, which would run from Eagle Point Parkway to Interstate 459.
Originally, the elevated lanes were intended to run from Eagle Point Parkway to the Red Mountain Expressway, but Jefferson County citizens were not receptive to the idea, Taylor said.
Shelby County citizens, however, were a different matter. Greater Shelby County Chamber President Jennifer Trammell said the Chamber supports the search for other options, including the elevated lanes.
“We’re very excited that our legislators are looking at other options, or any options for that matter, to help alleviate traffic on 280 and to help boost businesses that are already located there,” she said.
The lanes would be constructed in the Highway 280 median, with single columns supporting the overhead structure, which would be around 35 feet above the ground to give an open feel to the space under the lanes.
Taylor said the traffic study would let ALDOT officials decide whether to move ahead with the project.
“(We’re trying) to find out where people are starting out and where they’re going, trying to see what ways we can finance this thing and if people would really use it,” he said. “Is this something people are willing to do?”
While ALDOT supports the project, Taylor said he has no idea how quickly the project might happen.
“The study should be completed by summer. It’s a several-months process,” he said. “We’ll have that information, send that to our director and senior engineer, and at that point they’ll make the decision as to what options we need to consider and if it’s a feasible process.”
Taylor said he wasn’t sure exactly how the project would be funded, but private funding is a distinct possibility. He also said he doesn’t know what the cost would be to use the toll lanes.
Yet, people are eager to see the study’s results, he said.
“We’ve got some highly good feedback from a lot of people,” he said. “I think people are so anxious for a real solution, they’re looking for any kind of improvement.”
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Comments
Posted by Jacqui (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The faster an elevated highway can be implemented, the better, even if it is a toll road. I have seen an example of the proposed road in Tampa and it has helped in modernization, beauty and clean up of the area. On 280, one of the highest congested areas is around the Birmingham Water Works, where the road was rerouted, with the approval of Mountain Brook, to make way for a small strip mall. Mountain Brook and Homewood have expressed not wanting an elevated highway on U.S. 280. Isn't U.S. 280 just what it says, a United States highway and functions for the majority of the people, not just the minority. If this route is stopped at 459, then Birmingham will continue to be cut off/stifled by the bottleneck in transportation to/from the suburbs. Let's not forget the problem for EMS services trying to get someone to a hospital in traffic when minutes count. Why should a few people have such a say when they have not seen what it can do for the area, such as the elevated highway in Tampa?
Change is inevitable, these communities need to take another look at what they are missing. Until then, it's great news that there is a plan in the works to move ahead.
Posted by BamaM0M (anonymous) on February 22, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not make this a light railway system, to not only ease congestion but to also impact the environment a lot less? Birmingham is so far behind on mass transit, it's laughable. That is, it WOULD be laughable if our citizens weren't the ones suffering, through traffic delays and frustration...not to mention the wasted fuel consumed/exhaust emitted while waiting in traffic.
One idea that would make sense to me to try first, and cost NO TAX DOLLARS, would be getting the major employers in Birmingham to get on board with more telecommuters. The more people who work from home there are, the less cars would be out on the roadways.
And maybe in conjunction with this, or another option to try first...why not offer staggered work shifts with flexible schedules for employees? It would seem to me if they had 30-minute interval staggered shifts that employees could choose from...monitored and coordinated by employers, there would be a LOT less people all trying to get to one place (downtown) at 8:00 a.m. Another "free" option to try.
And if all else fails...the impact fees levied upon developers should be ENORMOUS, so they will think twice about building yet another strip mall or subdivision in an already overburdened infrastructure.
Come on people, let's think outside the box here!
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