East Central Region Archives

Oct 28

Talladega District overcomes sinkholes under hands-on Administrator

One of the constant challenges District 45 crews must tackle develops below Talladega County’s roads.

“One thing that we have to deal with a lot around here is sinkholes, and, you know, a lot of counties don’t have that. Talladega in particular, a lot of limestone and everything,” ALDOT District 45 Administrator Stephen Blair said.

Oct 21

ALDOT to host a public involvement meeting in Homewood

ALDOT to hold Public Involvement meeting in Homewood about US-31 improvements

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will host a come-and-go style public involvement meeting to discuss a potential project on US-31 involving plans for access management, sidewalk improvements and resurfacing.

The access management upgrades are proposed for the section of US-31 between Old Montgomery Highway and Ventura Avenue.

The resurfacing would be carried out between…

Oct 15

New SR-50 bridge over Wind Creek open in Tallapoosa County

SR-50 bridge Wind Creek Tallapoosa County

The new SR-50 bridge over Wind Creek in Tallapoosa County is now open to traffic.

The bridge is located 2.5 miles east of Martin Dam, northwest of Reeltown.

Traffic is crossing the new SR-50 bridge over Wind Creek in Tallapoosa County.

Crews shifted traffic from the original 1952 span to its replacement on Friday, October…

Oct 09

Calera District adapts and overcomes to keep Shelby County moving

Travelers navigating the heart of Alabama are quite familiar with I-65 traffic.

Nearly 100,000 vehicles pass through the interstate’s Shelby County section every day.

Vacationing families on the way to the state’s sugar-white sandy beaches contribute to the congestion.

“We get a lot of traffic in the summertime. It is unreal. And there’s a wreck,…

Oct 02

Oneonta District never backs down from a challenge

State Highway Department inspectors were busy overseeing construction of the final section of I-65 near Warrior in late 1985.

Russell Taylor’s father, Glenn, was one of those veteran Alabama Highway Department employees at the heart of the historic project.

As a young boy, Taylor remembers how his dad’s work to keep Alabama moving inspired him.

Sep 24

Jefferson County’s first Diverging Diamond Interchange under construction

Diverging Diamond Interchange under construction in Jefferson County.

Construction is underway on Jefferson County’s first Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) in McCalla.

The $22M project will transform Exit 104 on I-59/20 at McAshan Drive.

The exit offers access to the Rock Mountain Lakes community along with the Jefferson Metropolitan Park.

Diverging Diamond Interchange construction underway at Exit 104 on I-59/20.

It is home to…

Sep 17

ALDOT to replace traffic signs from Mississippi line to Birmingham

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) plans to replace older traffic signs with new signs on I-22 from the Mississippi state line to the I-65 interchange in Birmingham.

The 96-mile project, which also includes new traffic counters in Jefferson County, is scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 22, and will continue until fall 2026, weather permitting.

Sep 10

Triple roundabout upgrades safety at Blount County interchanges

New Blount County triple roundabout upgrades are designed to lower the number of serious wrecks at the busy intersections on SR-160 near I-65 (Exit 284).

For years, those interchanges kept Hayden police officers busy.

Since the department’s inception in 2019, responding to crashes on the roadway became a regular duty.

A new series of roundabouts…Read More “Triple roundabout upgrades safety at Blount County interchanges”

Aug 26

I-20 near Oxford closed to one lane for bridge repair

One lane of I-20 eastbound remains closed for bridge repairs near Oxford in Calhoun County.

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) crews shut down the right lane between mileposts 190-192 on Monday, Aug. 25.

During the repair, Exit 191 at the project site remains open.

Tuesday afternoon, the maintenance team had made significant progress replacing the…

Aug 26

Trussville I-59 exit ramps at Chalkville Mountain Road reopen

Chalkville Mountain Road exit ramps now open

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) crews have reopened the southbound Chalkville Mountain Road (Exit 141) ramps off I-59 in Trussville.

ALDOT has worked to meet a goal to reopen the busy ramps by August 29 and finished three days early.

In July, ALDOT shut down the ramps as part of the larger 3.8-mile widening…