Huntsville/Madison Development News (builders, parties, ownership)

[Big Grumpy]

Relative to Zierdt, there's also a developing road issue in that same lane about a hundred or so yards north. It's in the area right across from the 35 mph speed limit sign and about halfway between the I-565 overpass and Town Madison Blvd.

The looming question at present and for the next few months is whether or not the contractor can complete all of the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection improvements and also finish the half-mile portion of the southbound lanes and multi-use path north of the current crossover point before baseball season starts. Opening day for the Trash Pandas is April 15th 2020, which doesn't leave a lot of time if the contractor is unable to work for some portions of December, January, and February.

As for the remaining 3.5 miles of the project south of the current crossover point, I was told in the past few weeks that the southbound lanes will not be totally rebuilt for that full stretch. Some sections will be rebuilt (new road base and foundation, etc.) and some sections will simply be repaved. I don't believe this is consistent with the original plans and wonder about the merits of such a plan considering that the majority of the original road is littered with potholes and road base failures.

For those playing the Zierdt/Martin drinking game at home ...

1) last Friday was the 12th anniversary of the first public information meeting (11/29/07).
2) September 20th was the 8th anniversary of the second public information meeting (09/20/11).
3) As of today, not one resident of that portion of District 5 has received any beneft from a widening effort that was first authorized way back in June 2004 (Loretta Spencer regime)
4) this project continues to sit unfinished in Battle's 11th year in office and will very obviously stretch into his fourth term as mayor
5) the city hired a contractor to blast thousands of tons of dirt and rock and partially complete the widening of Cecil Ashburn Drive from 2/3 lanes to 4/5 lanes through mountaneous terrain in a matter of ten months. Meanwhile the Zierdt contractor has spent 7.5 months working the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection, installing drainage along about a half-mile of the southbound lanes, building a box culver at Town Madison Blvd, building up the Martin/Zierdt interchange about 3 feet, and installing curbing on the inside of the northbound lanes (completed this week).

[Chris_NorthHSV]

Originally Posted by Big Grumpy

Relative to Zierdt, there's also a developing road issue in that same lane about a hundred or so yards north. It's in the area right across from the 35 mph speed limit sign and about halfway between the I-565 overpass and Town Madison Blvd.

The looming question at present and for the next few months is whether or not the contractor can complete all of the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection improvements and also finish the half-mile portion of the southbound lanes and multi-use path north of the current crossover point before baseball season starts. Opening day for the Trash Pandas is April 15th 2020, which doesn't leave a lot of time if the contractor is unable to work for some portions of December, January, and February.

As for the remaining 3.5 miles of the project south of the current crossover point, I was told in the past few weeks that the southbound lanes will not be totally rebuilt for that full stretch. Some sections will be rebuilt (new road base and foundation, etc.) and some sections will simply be repaved. I don't believe this is consistent with the original plans and wonder about the merits of such a plan considering that the majority of the original road is littered with potholes and road base failures.

For those playing the Zierdt/Martin drinking game at home ...

1) last Friday was the 12th anniversary of the first public information meeting (11/29/07).
2) September 20th was the 8th anniversary of the second public information meeting (09/20/11).
3) As of today, not one resident of that portion of District 5 has received any beneft from a widening effort that was first authorized way back in June 2004 (Loretta Spencer regime)
4) this project continues to sit unfinished in Battle's 11th year in office and will very obviously stretch into his fourth term as mayor
5) the city hired a contractor to blast thousands of tons of dirt and rock and partially complete the widening of Cecil Ashburn Drive from 2/3 lanes to 4/5 lanes through mountaneous terrain in a matter of ten months. Meanwhile the Zierdt contractor has spent 7.5 months working the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection, installing drainage along about a half-mile of the southbound lanes, building a box culver at Town Madison Blvd, building up the Martin/Zierdt interchange about 3 feet, and installing curbing on the inside of the northbound lanes (completed this week).

I can't say for sure, but I have a relative that used to work in the utilities sector and from what they've said the relocation of utilities is what might be holding things up right now. They can't say for sure, because they don't work in that field anymore. From my understanding though, there's just too much work for the manpower, which isn't different from most other fields of work. With the Huntsville area growing like it is, I'm sure they are stretched thin just being able to get the new work done not even thinking about replacement work. I know people living over there don't want to hear that, but that could possibly be holding things up. That's no excuse, because it definitely should be finished at this point.....There's just a lot of road work going on at the moment.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by Big Grumpy

Relative to Zierdt, there's also a developing road issue in that same lane about a hundred or so yards north. It's in the area right across from the 35 mph speed limit sign and about halfway between the I-565 overpass and Town Madison Blvd.

The looming question at present and for the next few months is whether or not the contractor can complete all of the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection improvements and also finish the half-mile portion of the southbound lanes and multi-use path north of the current crossover point before baseball season starts. Opening day for the Trash Pandas is April 15th 2020, which doesn't leave a lot of time if the contractor is unable to work for some portions of December, January, and February.

As for the remaining 3.5 miles of the project south of the current crossover point, I was told in the past few weeks that the southbound lanes will not be totally rebuilt for that full stretch. Some sections will be rebuilt (new road base and foundation, etc.) and some sections will simply be repaved. I don't believe this is consistent with the original plans and wonder about the merits of such a plan considering that the majority of the original road is littered with potholes and road base failures.

For those playing the Zierdt/Martin drinking game at home ...

1) last Friday was the 12th anniversary of the first public information meeting (11/29/07).
2) September 20th was the 8th anniversary of the second public information meeting (09/20/11).
3) As of today, not one resident of that portion of District 5 has received any beneft from a widening effort that was first authorized way back in June 2004 (Loretta Spencer regime)
4) this project continues to sit unfinished in Battle's 11th year in office and will very obviously stretch into his fourth term as mayor
5) the city hired a contractor to blast thousands of tons of dirt and rock and partially complete the widening of Cecil Ashburn Drive from 2/3 lanes to 4/5 lanes through mountaneous terrain in a matter of ten months. Meanwhile the Zierdt contractor has spent 7.5 months working the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection, installing drainage along about a half-mile of the southbound lanes, building a box culver at Town Madison Blvd, building up the Martin/Zierdt interchange about 3 feet, and installing curbing on the inside of the northbound lanes (completed this week).

For all the great and wonderful things happening in our city and region this project has been a complete failure by all involved.
Sad and now will have a negative impact on that area until complete.

[Teko03]

Originally Posted by Chris_NorthHSV

I can't say for sure, but I have a relative that used to work in the utilities sector and from what they've said the relocation of utilities is what might be holding things up right now.

I believe utilities have all been relocated. That was in fact the delay during the Spring of 2019. With a projected Fall 2021 competition date, at this point I'll be happy if they manage to complete the project by Fall 2022.

[Chris_NorthHSV]

Anybody know what's going in at the old Food World location at the corner of Memorial Parkway and Oakwood?
Sorry if already posted...

[aero10]

Originally Posted by Chris_NorthHSV

Anybody know what's going in at the old Food World location at the corner of Memorial Parkway and Oakwood?
Sorry if already posted...

Madison County Services building, to include: Madison County tax assessor, tax collector, license director, probate judge and potentially other departments. Moving those out of the court house.

https://whnt.com/2018/10/06/new-serv...adison-county/

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Big Grumpy

Relative to Zierdt, there's also a developing road issue in that same lane about a hundred or so yards north. It's in the area right across from the 35 mph speed limit sign and about halfway between the I-565 overpass and Town Madison Blvd.

The looming question at present and for the next few months is whether or not the contractor can complete all of the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection improvements and also finish the half-mile portion of the southbound lanes and multi-use path north of the current crossover point before baseball season starts. Opening day for the Trash Pandas is April 15th 2020, which doesn't leave a lot of time if the contractor is unable to work for some portions of December, January, and February.

As for the remaining 3.5 miles of the project south of the current crossover point, I was told in the past few weeks that the southbound lanes will not be totally rebuilt for that full stretch. Some sections will be rebuilt (new road base and foundation, etc.) and some sections will simply be repaved. I don't believe this is consistent with the original plans and wonder about the merits of such a plan considering that the majority of the original road is littered with potholes and road base failures.

For those playing the Zierdt/Martin drinking game at home ...

1) last Friday was the 12th anniversary of the first public information meeting (11/29/07).
2) September 20th was the 8th anniversary of the second public information meeting (09/20/11).
3) As of today, not one resident of that portion of District 5 has received any beneft from a widening effort that was first authorized way back in June 2004 (Loretta Spencer regime)
4) this project continues to sit unfinished in Battle's 11th year in office and will very obviously stretch into his fourth term as mayor
5) the city hired a contractor to blast thousands of tons of dirt and rock and partially complete the widening of Cecil Ashburn Drive from 2/3 lanes to 4/5 lanes through mountaneous terrain in a matter of ten months. Meanwhile the Zierdt contractor has spent 7.5 months working the Zierdt/Madison Blvd intersection, installing drainage along about a half-mile of the southbound lanes, building a box culver at Town Madison Blvd, building up the Martin/Zierdt interchange about 3 feet, and installing curbing on the inside of the northbound lanes (completed this week).

But hey, on the bright side at some point in the future, maybe they will finally finish it and you will have those glorious bike paths that caused the delay for the past few years. lol

[deesonic]

I'm sure there are plenty of naysayers, but it really is amazing how many projects are going on downtown these days. https://www.al.com/news/2019/12/the-...WG3wT7X16Jsv28

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by deesonic

I'm sure there are plenty of naysayers, but it really is amazing how many projects are going on downtown these days. https://www.al.com/news/2019/12/the-...WG3wT7X16Jsv28

And a lot more to come

[denofhc]

Originally Posted by deesonic

I'm sure there are plenty of naysayers, but it really is amazing how many projects are going on downtown these days. https://www.al.com/news/2019/12/the-...WG3wT7X16Jsv28

I find these projects quite exciting. It is cool to be part of a vibrant, growing community. There are more and bigger projects on the horizon.