Huntsville/Madison Development News (Birmingham, Centre: vehicle, inexpensive, showing)

[Big Grumpy]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Yes, it does indeed. But the changes will have to be to Interstate specs (which are well beyond those of a regular freeway), or lose the Interstate designation.

Not sure I'd look at it as cutting corners but rather using and taking advantage of what's already been built. As I noted this afternoon, the section in Limestone county with the divider is plenty wide enough to support three lanes except where the three bridges are. They can pave a small strip on the outside shoulder to give a little more inside shoulder, but otherwise very little work is required through this section.

The areas requiring more work are the two sections with grass medians. They will have to eat some of that existing median to add a new lane in either direction as there's no real way to squeeze three lanes in. We're not talking about lengthy sections either. The eastern section spans from County Line Road to the on/off ramps for County Line road and the western section covers the area from Limestone Creek apartments to I-65 on ramp.

I for one applaud the state for spending money wisely and efficiently. It's crazy that they were even throwing around numbers like $100 million dollars a year or two back and talking about having to acquire additional ROW. There's plenty of room within the existing corridor to add a third lane in either direction and in the largest section, there's room to add a third lane now (though it would be tight). Anyone questioning the latter point need look no further than the lane shift on the eastbound side at Greenbrier.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by Big Grumpy

Not sure I'd look at it as cutting corners but rather using and taking advantage of what's already been built. As I noted this afternoon, the section in Limestone county with the divider is plenty wide enough to support three lanes except where the three bridges are. They can pave a small strip on the outside shoulder to give a little more inside shoulder, but otherwise very little work is required through this section.

The areas requiring more work are the two sections with grass medians. They will have to eat some of that existing median to add a new lane in either direction as there's no real way to squeeze three lanes in. We're not talking about lengthy sections either. The eastern section spans from County Line Road to the on/off ramps for County Line road and the western section covers the area from Limestone Creek apartments to I-65 on ramp.

I for one applaud the state for spending money wisely and efficiently. It's crazy that they were even throwing around numbers like $100 million dollars a year or two back and talking about having to acquire additional ROW. There's plenty of room within the existing corridor to add a third lane in either direction and in the largest section, there's room to add a third lane now (though it would be tight). Anyone questioning the latter point need look no further than the lane shift on the eastbound side at Greenbrier.

yeah it makes you wonder what they were thinking before, most likely the state didn't want to deal with it. While this is a positive development as time goes on there will probably be some concerns that local officials need to question now.
Will there not be any shoulders along this stretch? Any accident, and there will be some, will shut the freeway down for hours.
6 bridges will need expanded, there may be quick construction techniques but these will take the most time and money.
Expand the pinch point across the refuge, basically another bridge, will there be any environmental hold ups or does the existing approvals suffice.
Airport interchange westbound/ eastbound, include it in this as it is just a short stretch to expand lanes to Wall Triana.
Lighting and signing, don't let aldot screw us over on incorrect or insufficient wayfinding, and lighting.
Federal funding? Where are they in all of this? Surely this will be another source of revenue.
The concern is the announced price rough estimate 17 million, sounds too low. At first I thought aldot may have been working on it but now it sounds like they really haven't.
Hope is that Huntsville officials will stay on top of this because when its done the state will not want to hear anymore I-565 issues. If they do it right, (big unknown) then it should satisfy the CURRENT needs.

[aero10]

Originally Posted by Chris_NorthHSV

Wow, it sounds like they are cutting a few corners. All I can say is make sure you don't sit beside big rigs traveling down that section of interstate. It could be very hazardous to your health.

They're doing what Texas has been doing. I've seen numerous spots around Fort Worth and Houston where they just paved the shoulders to add a lane.

[AU HSV]

Latest COUNTY ESTIMATES


Alabama's biggest counties based on estimated 2018 populations:


1. Jefferson, 659,300
2. Mobile, 413,757
3. Madison 366,519
4. Montgomery, 225,763
5. Baldwin, 218,022
6. Shelby, 215,707
7. Tuscaloosa, 208,911
8. Lee, 163,941
9. Morgan, 119,089
10. Calhoun, 114,277


Since the last full census in 2010, Baldwin has added an estimated 35,757 people.
Baldwin saw the fastest one-year growth in both raw numbers (5,403 to Madison's 4,854) and percentage (2.54% to Limestone County's 2.23%).


https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2019/...opulation.html

[AU HSV]

This was announced at Blue Origins groundbreaking earlier, and now official.


NASA announced Wednesday it has signed an agreement to let Blue Origin use Marshall Test Stand 4670 to test its BE-3U and BE-4 rocket engines. The BE-4 has been selected to power United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket and Blue’s New Glenn rocket.
Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said. “Through this agreement, we’ll provide for the refurbishment, restoration and modernization of this piece of American history – and bring the sounds of rocket engines firing back to Huntsville.”


https://www.al.com/news/2019/04/its-...untsville.html

[AU HSV]

METROPOLITAN ESTIMATES 2018


Birmingham- 1,151,801 up 2116 from 2017


Huntsville- 462,693 up 6,952 from 2017


Mobile- 413,757 down 758 from 2017


Montgomery- 373,225 down 817 from 2017


https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/...xhtml?src=bkmk#

[AznDreamer]

Stovehouse is heating up:

https://www.rocketcitynow.com/news/r...z4RNjS869ET9uk

I hope stovehouse will do well, but I have several concerns. I hope the food garden will also have indoor accommodations to support all weather conditions. I can't really sit and eat outside under the sun on a hot day nor cold weather. Also, I hope that foods from new restaurants are highly authentic, especially for ramen.

[Teko03]

Originally Posted by AznDreamer

Stovehouse is heating up:

https://www.rocketcitynow.com/news/r...z4RNjS869ET9uk

I hope stovehouse will do well, but I have several concerns. I hope the food garden will also have indoor accommodations to support all weather conditions. I can't really sit and eat outside under the sun on a hot day nor cold weather. Also, I hope that foods from new restaurants are highly authentic, especially for ramen.

I'm just happy that the restaurants are new unique to Huntsville concepts instead national chains. (Take note Louis Breland!)

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by Teko03

I'm just happy that the restaurants are new unique to Huntsville concepts instead national chains. (Take note Louis Breland!)

suggest going downtown, most restaurants there are unique and delicious.
Domaine South
Humphrey's Bar & Grill
Jefferson Street Pub
Keegan's Public House
Lone Goose Saloon
The Martin Bar & Bistro
Miller's Tavern
Old Town Beer Exchange
Oshi Poke and Sushi
Palms Nightclub
Pints and Pixels
Purveyor Huntsville
SiP
The Bar at 805
Voodoo Lounge
Whiskey Bottom Saloon
Clean Juice
Cozy Cow
Cajun Steamer
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Mei Wei
Pane e Vino Pizzeria
Taco Mama
Another Broken Egg
Below The Radar Brewhouse
Big Oh's
Honest Coffee Roasters
Jimmy John's
Pints and Pixels
Vinny’s Greek and Indian Grill
AM Booth's Lumberyard Kitchen
Church Street Wine Shoppe
Cyn Shea's Café & Catering a Division of Serving Hope, Inc.
Dallas Mill Deli
Meridian Crossing & Tavern
Schnitzel Ranch
Big Ed's PizzaOlde Town Coffee
Ted's Bar-B-Q
Thai Garden
Furniture Factory
The Bottle
Commerce Kitchen
Cotton Row Restaurant
The Moon Bakeshop
AC Hotel / Bar


Coming soon
Melt
The Poppy British Pub
The Westcott
Retaggio
Moe's BBQ
Phat Sammy's

[Teko03]

^^^Aware of those, I'm just more concerned about Town Madison since I live near there...hence the Louis Breland comment.