By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

The Alabaster City Council took a step toward possibly extending Shelby County 26 through a currently vacant piece of property to U.S. 31 south of the Promenade shopping center during its Feb. 4 meeting.

During the meeting, the council voted to enter into a temporary $2.5 million line of credit with Central State Bank for “economic development purposes,” according to the resolution.

During a Jan. 30 work session, City Council members said they plan to use a portion of the line of credit to extend Shelby County 26 – also known as Fulton Springs Road – from its current terminus at Old Highway 31 through an undeveloped piece of land to U.S. 31.

The city likely will use a portion of the line of credit to purchase a few parcels of land to allow the road to be extended, council members said. Preliminary plans call for traffic lights on both ends of the three-lane Shelby County 26 extension – one on Old Highway 31 and another on U.S. 31.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry said he had meetings scheduled with entities such as the Alabama Department of Transportation, the Shelby County Highway Department and the CSX railroad company to discuss possible partnerships on extending the road.

City Council members said extending the road will allow drivers to more easily access Shelby County 26 from U.S. 31, and will open the land up for possible future development.

The Alabaster Industrial Development Board is working with the Montgomery-based Aronov development company to attract retailers to the proposed Alabaster Exchange shopping center south of the southern wing of the Colonial Promenade shopping center.