Anybody have any updated, privy info on I-20/59 reno? (Birmingham: income, to live)

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by steveklein

You are the king

Steve, you don't have to kiss up - just try to be intellectually honest and open minded. That way you won't have so many people here calling you out.

They are going to add more lanes to the junction. They are going to add more lanes to 65. It is needed, so just get over it and let it be. The 22 exchange is going to have a large number of lanes too, because it is a major route crucial to interstate commerce. They aren't worried about the metro sprawling out beyond Jasper. They do it because of the role Birmingham plays as a hub to interstate traffic from Atlanta to OKC and beyond.

[Tourian]

All right let's get to it!

Lane closures planned for 20/59 near downtown Birmingham for bridge replacement | AL.com

Expect lane closures and rolling roadblocks along Interstate 20/59 northeast of downtown Birmingham this week as workers demolish a bridge over the interstate.

The work is part of a project to replace the bridge that carries 12th Avenue North over I-20/59 by next spring.

[Tourian]

ALDOT is pushing forward as promised...

First phase of I-20/59 bridge project starts Thursday | AL.com

[steveklein]

I'll be surprised if this does anything other than perhaps add delays to a project that will probably run over by years as it is.

Federal lawsuit seeks halt of project to replace I-20/59 bridges through downtown Birmingham | AL.com

[280Tony]

For a number of reasons, that injunction is going to get denied summarily.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by 280Tony

For a number of reasons, that injunction is going to get denied summarily.

Hope so. This is probably just a publicity stunt so that Austin and co can appear to be "for the people" in light of recent events that would seem to suggest otherwise.

[preguntas]

The most recent example of why people will be asking themselves in twenty years why the city can't move ahead.
It is hard to move when shooting one's self in the feet.

[bhamoutlook]

Originally Posted by preguntas

The most recent example of why people will be asking themselves in twenty years why the city can't move ahead.
It is hard to move when shooting one's self in the feet.

The idea of people screaming for an alternative plan without a solution in mind has always been idiotic to me. And a plan isn't, "sink the interstate! It cuts off the north side of the city." A plan tells how we're going to pay for it, how long, etc. I've never seen that.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by bhamoutlook

The idea of people screaming for an alternative plan without a solution in mind has always been idiotic to me. And a plan isn't, "sink the interstate! It cuts off the north side of the city." A plan tells how we're going to pay for it, how long, etc. I've never seen that.

To be fair those who oppose this project want ALDOT and the feds to "take a hard look" at any and all alternative plans, which means take a hard look at moving the interstate north along the Finley Blvd corridor. Also the fact that ALDOT basically ignored the city of Birmingham during the planning should be a bit of a concern.

That plan btw will cost billions and would take at least 10 years to complete. This is ALDOT we are talking about.

[preguntas]

Sincerely progressive citizens would not wait until construction has actually started to challenge this in court. The underlying agenda of these groups is not at all focused on the purpose of the projects.

(I particularly find it amusing that MOST of the buildings along the viaduct came after the expressway, so it obviously was not deemed so horrible when building BJCC, SS, Museum expansion, the Criminal Justice Center, and most recently the three buildings making up the Federal district)