Any word on Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta interstate? (Birmingham, Fort Payne: job, homes, construction)

[Nickodemis]

Does anyone have an update on the Memphis-Huntsville-Atlanta highway? I heard they are ready to break ground soon, is this true? Is there much in the news about it in Huntsville? I can't seem to find anything news on the web for the last 12 months.

Thanks

[Southlander]

I think it's pretty dead. An interstate from Atlanta to Memphis via Birmingham is already going in. Our legislators waited too long.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Southlander

I think it's pretty dead. An interstate from Atlanta to Memphis via Birmingham is already going in. Our legislators waited too long.

The Huntsville to Memphis expressway is still included in long range road plans, regardless of the Birmingham to Memphis route an east-west expressway is sorely needed in North Alabama. The Southern bypass is supposed to be part of the expressway from Huntsville to Atlanta. I do think if it does ever get built anytime before cars are still used, it wont connect directly to Memphis.. that it will connect with the already existing I-22 (Birmingham to Memphis expressway) and/or it will be done as an I-30 extension from South of Little Rock to Huntsville/Atlanta. I'd be happy if they just connected it to I-22 from Huntsville and upgrade and connect huntsville from the east side either to Chatt or Atlanta. Looking at the map to me it looks geographically like it made more sense to build this expressway through Huntsville to get the shortest route from Mem to ATL(not the shortest amount of upgrading/or new construction), but i'm sure there were numerous factors that went into it being built from Memphis to Bham for instance like using pre-existing highways (us-78) where's the most direct route through huntsville would probably have required a lot of new construction and apparently Mississippi's transportation department can get things done faster than the people in Alabama since that's the only part left remaining to build smh.

[Nickodemis]

I would be happy if they could build an interstate from Huntsville to I-75 just north of Atlanta. I think US 72 does a fine job of connecting Huntsville to Chattanooga but there is no straight route to Atlanta. US 431 is a nightmare and AL35 is only 2 lanes after Fort Payne.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Nickodemis

I would be happy if they could build an interstate from Huntsville to I-75 just north of Atlanta. I think US 72 does a fine job of connecting Huntsville to Chattanooga but there is no straight route to Atlanta. US 431 is a nightmare and AL35 is only 2 lanes after Fort Payne.

Yes thats what I mean when I was talking about Chattanooga... US 72 is already planned to be upgraded to limited access all the way to South Pittsburg TN. And 431 is horrible every time I drive through it, I am amazed as how it can take me over 2 hours just to go 90 miles.

[Nickodemis]

When do they plan to upgrade US72? I saw that they are going to extended I565 to Shields Road starting in 2008.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Nickodemis

When do they plan to upgrade US72? I saw that they are going to extended I565 to Shields Road starting in 2008.

Technically they arent extending 565 it will still be called US 72 because the road won't be fully up to interstate standards it will be limited access(they are adding overpasses at Moores Mill /Shields road)LOL @ 2008 you must not be familiar with ALDOT it was supposed to happen years ago but it keeps get pushing back its now been pushed back to fiscal 2010 at the earliest and ALDOT has hinted that its likely to get moved back even further. There is current no timetable to upgrade it past Shields/Ryland Pike right now and based on the rate ALDOT completes projects it will probably be many decades until the entire stretch is upgraded.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Looking at the map to me it looks geographically like it made more sense to build this expressway through Huntsville to get the shortest route from Mem to ATL(not the shortest amount of upgrading/or new construction), but i'm sure there were numerous factors that went into it being built from Memphis to Bham for instance like using pre-existing highways (us-78)...

Going through Huntsville is not the most direct route, but Huntsville is where the money and legislative power is. You can't really use existing highways because people still need them for local traffic. Plus the fact that homes and businesses have already built up along the route, which makes acquiring rights-of-way even more expensive.

Originally Posted by Nickodemis

I would be happy if they could build an interstate from Huntsville to I-75 just north of Atlanta.

There's a little problem of having to cross a mountain range.

[Huntsville_secede]

[quote=Southlander;2835478]Going through Huntsville is not the most direct route, but Huntsville is where the money and legislative power is. You can't really use existing highways because people still need them for local traffic. Plus the fact that homes and businesses have already built up along the route, which makes acquiring rights-of-way even more expensive.

Its more of a geographically direct route than going through Birmingham is what I was referring to. Draw a diagonal line directly from Memphis to Atlanta on a map, and that line will come pretty close to Huntsville.

[Nickodemis]

Are there plans to extend Research Parkway south or north? I heard something about extending it to South Huntsville and US 231.