Traffic in Hunstville/Decater? (Huntsville, Decatur: house, employment, living)

[relo854]

After reading several threads......sounds like this area has a big problem with traffic congestion. When we do relocate we will have to commute (not sure when or where yet but looking in this area). In your opinion...which has more of a traffic congestion issue....Huntsville or Decater....any comments on traffic issues are GREATLY appreciated..........thank you.

[harry chickpea]

IMO, Huntsville has more congestion. Part of the issue is that a lot of the roads are older and more overcrowded than the relatively new beltway in Decatur, and part of the issue is that the traffic light system isn't the latest technology, and most of the major roadways aren't limited access roads, making for a lot of stop and go traffic even on good days. It could be worse.

[rnc76]

Huntsville is probably worse basically because it is bigger, but I've never driven in Decatur during rush hour.

I think the traffic in Huntsville is basically dependent on where you live. I live really close to downtown and traffic to me is a non-issue. However, if you must have that brand new 3500 sqft house for $300k, you'll have to look out in East Limestone County or somewhere 20 miles from your job where all the new development is going. Then, traffic becomes an issue. IMO, if you live more than 15-20 minutes from your job in Huntsville, it is because you chose to, not because you had to. In other parts of the country, people have to live 1 hr from jobs just to afford a house, they don't have a choice. Here, people have a choice, and they still choose to move further and further out. Then they complain non-stop that their 20 mile commute takes 40 minutes. I find it annoying, I guess you could call it a pet peeve of mine.

[Southlander]

There can be heavy traffic on I-565 between Huntsville and Decatur during the morning and evening traffic, but unless there's a wreck, the traffic still moves. In Decatur, there is pretty much the same situation on Sixth Avenue (U.S. 31). Beltline Road (Ala. 67) can get a little backed up, especially now that they are widening it, and there is a LOT of truck traffic.
But traffic is not really a huge problem. I lived in Atlanta for 3 years and it's WAY worse there. If you have a 20-minute commute that sometimes takes 40, you might wait another 10 minutes and then your time would be back to 20 minutes.

[VMH2507]

I have lived in Houston (Clear Lake area) and the traffic is MUCH worse there than you could ever imagine in any part of Huntsville. In Houston I lived 1.3 miles from my work and it always took at least 30 minutes -- could have walked it faster except for the heat and humidity.
I have visited Atlanta frequently and the traffic is much worse there as well. People who have experienced real traffic have to laugh when Huntsvillian's complain about the traffic.

[relo854]

Sounds like where I currently live.....I work and live on the same side of the major traffic congestion....I have a 7 minute, 3 mile, NO traffic commute!! Probaby works the same everywhere. You have to live and work on the same side of the traffic mess to avoid the congestion. That's why I'm SO concerned about finding an area that has a lot of employment opportunities...in case one doesn't work out, we won't have a horrible commute to another job.......

[dbkeel1]

I've said it before, rush hour in Huntsville/Madison is like 3AM traffic in Dallas. Everything's relative. After living there and Orlando, this is nothing.

[Sarges Dad]

Traffic stinks so I go in early to beat it, but I have visited many other city's and it is much better here. Also, people are more curtious about letting you out of side roads than most big cities. I have to say even though state and federal money is slow to get here the city of Huntsville is the only city in the state spending citty funds to upgrade roads.

[Keeper]

I have to agree with ya'll about the traffic after living and driving in Tampa even rush hour here is more like driving during normal hours there. I lived 9 miles from work and it would take me 30-40 minutes to get to work during rush hour in Tampa and if there was an accident it could be over an hour.
I have found most people here more curtious here too. They will let you in when you are trying to merge onto the interstate or the pkwy.
It is too bad the money to finish the pkwy has been halted for the time being but hopefully they can get it going again.

[Charles]

Google Maps estimates 18 miles, 28 minutes from the Hampton Cove area to Wynn Drive/Bradford area (431-231-565). That sounds like a breeze to me. I normally like to start work at 6-630 AM so would I be correct in assuming that 18/28 is realistic? What about if I started at 8AM? Does 431 back up? What about Cecil Ashburn to Airport to 231? Is that a poor alternative?