Hwy. 72 will have lanes added... (Huntsville, Madison: stores, move, Walmart)

[BMW Dave]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

72 is a state highway. Improvements are supposed to be funded by the state along with maybe a small percentage from the city. However, the state doesn't do it's part and kicks projects down the road like a can. They have pushed many projects back 10 and 20 years that were supposed to have been completed 10 or 20 years ago already. For instance, the widening/four lane work for 53 was supposed to have been done 20 years ago. I can remember that project being surveyed and re-engineered at least 4 times over 15 years before they finally started. Another example and this is a good one, the widening of 431/Governors Drive through the hospital district. That is also a state highway and the city finally got tired of waiting for the state and completely funded and built that themselves. It cost the city millions but it is one of those things that needed to have been done 20 years ago and at the rate the state was going it would have been another 20.

Basically, we are sending tax revenue to ALDOT and they are squandering most of it running around in circles. In my opinion, we need to clean house at ALDOT from top to bottom and start fresh. Maybe we could get someone in there that can build roads instead of hiring office staff to sit around and come up with excuses and projections.

Perhaps get a director from NORTH alabama. It would be a start.

[ingsoc75]

Originally Posted by BMW Dave

I mean in the future, it would be nice to see Slaughter Rd get widened AND THEN developed, not the other way around.

You should know by now BMW Dave that they always do the infrastructure part of development last.

[BMW Dave]

Originally Posted by ingsoc75

You should know by now BMW Dave that they always do the infrastructure part of development last.

I know, but I was hoping some of the Research park forethought could rub off on Slaughter? I mean they are so close.

Maybe it's communicable???

[Maya Blue]

Originally Posted by BMW Dave

I know, but I was hoping some of the Research park forethought could rub off on Slaughter? I mean they are so close.

Maybe it's communicable???

The problem with Slaughter is that parts of it are owned by Huntsville, Madison and Madison County. They can never agree on who will pay what part of the bill to expand. That's why it was only repaved a few years ago instead of widening it between OMP and 72.

[MadNick]

According to the city (Hsv), Slaughter is going to be widened in 2017. (I'm not holding my breath.) I think what it really needs is a greenway (ala Hughes Road) and a suicide lane the entire length. Traffic doesn't really back up anymore now that the intersection with 72 is fixed except when people are trying to turn left off Slaughter.

I am not looking forward to attempting to turn *onto* Slaughter Road once the OMP closure starts.

[BMW Dave]

Originally Posted by Maya Blue

The problem with Slaughter is that parts of it are owned by Huntsville, Madison and Madison County. They can never agree on who will pay what part of the bill to expand. That's why it was only repaved a few years ago instead of widening it between OMP and 72.

Good point about HSV and Madison owning different parts. I keep forgetting that!

Originally Posted by MadNick

According to the city (Hsv), Slaughter is going to be widened in 2017. (I'm not holding my breath.) I think what it really needs is a greenway (ala Hughes Road) and a suicide lane the entire length. Traffic doesn't really back up anymore now that the intersection with 72 is fixed except when people are trying to turn left off Slaughter.

I am not looking forward to attempting to turn *onto* Slaughter Road once the OMP closure starts.

I had only heard rumors about Slaughter. Good to know there is actually a plan!

And thank you for posting level headed comments, Welcome MadNick!

[Wandering_Missourian]

ALDOT is why I really wish HSV were part of Tennessee. Our roads would be paved in gold if we actually kept our tax revenue in town.

[MadNick]

Here's the city plan for the TIP money 2012-2015:
http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/Planning...cs/2012TIP.pdf
(PDF, project list starts page 38)

Here's the 2035 Transportation plan:
http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/Planning...al2035plan.pdf
(From 2010, PDF, project list starts page 60.)
Slaughter Road is slated for a paved bike lane and sidewalk. Bike lane map page 137.

I don't see where I got 2017 from, but I live off Slaughter Road so I pay attention to that in particular and it stuck in my head from somewhere. I might have picked it up at the Madison Growth Plan meetings, although Madison ignores Slaughter Road almost entirely.

I think a lot of their plans have gang aft agley lately, though.

[rae-zor]

As far as Old Madison and that bridge, I was at a town hall earlier this week with a couple counsel men and both mayors of huntsville and Madison. It was primarily to discuss the widening of Zierdt and Martin roads, but Madison bridge came up, and yes, it will be replaced, but at the cost of Old Madison wil be COMPLETELY closed at that point for about 9 months while they construct the new bridge. Going to be a lot of pains and holler then folks, but it will be nice in the end when it's finally done...

[CoreLysium]

Old Madison Pike closed for 9 months!

I would say Epic Fail, but it has to be done. I'm curious how Hwy 20 will be at Slaughter and Houghes during that time. And I suppose on the road that's on the other side of Zeirdt near Publix.