New Crestwood Medical facility in Harvest. (Huntsville, Madison: low income, apartments, mobile home)

[MisterEd51]

At least this is going a lot smoother than Crestwood Hospital's last expansion plans. In 2009 they had a meeting to decide who would build the Madison Hospital. At the meeting Crestwood was chosen. Not long afterwords someone decided they didn't have a quorum at that meeting. They met again and picked Huntsville Hospital to build the Madison Hospital.

Maybe twenty or thirty years ago it was announced that Hwy 53 would be four-laned to Ardmore. The state said it had a very high priority. Then priorities changed and these plans were forgotten. That is typical for Alabama.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by MisterEd51

At least this is going a lot smoother than Crestwood Hospital's last expansion plans. In 2009 they had a meeting to decide who would build the Madison Hospital. At the meeting Crestwood was chosen. Not long afterwords someone decided they didn't have a quorum at that meeting. They met again and picked Huntsville Hospital to build the Madison Hospital.

Maybe twenty or thirty years ago it was announced that Hwy 53 would be four-laned to Ardmore. The state said it had a very high priority. Then priorities changed and these plans were forgotten. That is typical for Alabama.

a much younger Dale Strong had these comments in 2007, a who's who of ineptness.

“It has been announced by at least four governors of this state and by the state of Tennessee and, so far, they’ve four-laned about the width of my desk.” Strong said. “It’s a two-lane carrying more traffic than any two-lane in the state. The project goes back to Jim Folsom, Fob James, Don Siegelman and everyone has said it’s a No. 1 priority. Now we are two terms into Bob Riley and here we are.”

Now some widening and improvements have been done since then but why are all North Alabama projects considered "not in your lifetime" completion? Yeah we know why. Can you just imagine the mess if Huntsville didn't have the Restore our Road Program? If we want it we have to pay for a lot of it.

[Chris_NorthHSV]

I really don't think there's enough workers in Alabama to keep up with the roadwork, and they need to start contracting some out of state companies to get some projects done. It takes too long for a majority of projects.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by Chris_NorthHSV

I really don't think there's enough workers in Alabama to keep up with the roadwork, and they need to start contracting some out of state companies to get some projects done. It takes too long for a majority of projects.

ALDOT has contracted with out-of-state companies before, one example being the 20/59 rebuild in Birmingham. I believe the contract there was with a company out of Houston.

Could be there's some legal requirement to use in-state contractors and there are more hoops to jump through to hire an out-of-state company.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by Chris_NorthHSV

I really don't think there's enough workers in Alabama to keep up with the roadwork, and they need to start contracting some out of state companies to get some projects done. It takes too long for a majority of projects.

Anyone qualified contractors can bid on state projects. Lowest bid wins most cases.

[chucksnee]

Today.

[JoeJunior]

I hate to tell you, but Rogers Group is the dominant paving and road contractor in the area. They're originally out of a small community at the base of the mountain north of Monteagle. But their headquarters is now Nashville.

So out of state road builders are doing much of the paving and roadwork in North Alabama already.

I cannot think of any division of any state government that's more political than the road department. And Alabama's worse than Tennessee even.

Huntsville is one of the truly dynamic cities anywhere, and we cannot even get any turn lanes on the state's busiest 2 lane highway (Hwy 53). I cannot tell you how many serious accidents occur out my back door--like Fri. night.

Despite thousands of homes being built in NW Madison County, only 2 miles of Jeff Rd. (close to Dale Strong's home) is being 4 laned. There is a huge area of 2 lane county roads in gridlock during rush hours.

[y8tiger]

I wonder if Hwy 53 will become a four-lane to Ardmore before Wall Triana Hwy and Jeff Rd end up a four lane between Hwy 72 and Hwy 53.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by y8tiger

I wonder if Hwy 53 will become a four-lane to Ardmore before Wall Triana Hwy and Jeff Rd end up a four lane between Hwy 72 and Hwy 53.

It’s already been discussed that the Hwy 53 four lanes would only go to Ready Section Rd. Then the road will travel west, along Ready Section rd, until it gets to I65. Basically a bypass for/of Ardmore.

[chucksnee]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

It’s already been discussed that the Hwy 53 four lanes would only go to Ready Section Rd. Then the road will travel west, along Ready Section rd, until it gets to I65. Basically a bypass for/of Ardmore.

I've heard this also. But I heard the bypass would start at or around the Wall Triaina and 53 area.