Huntsville updates

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

Exactly. It has to be taken into consideration that there are two parts of the Tennessee Valley: north of the river and south. The river is what made this part of the state, and that geography must still be taken into consideration.

There's a significant part of North Alabama that's not in Huntsville? I didn't know this?!

[tredici]

I hope you're being sarcastic... The whole reason that Tennessee Valley was ever looked at for anything was because of what happened on the southside of the river.

[ttownfeen]

Why an interstate/freeway? US 72 is four-laned across all of Alabama, unless I'm mistaken. We need to worry about four-laning all the major non-interstate highways in Alabama, such as US 43 in west Alabama, US 431 in east Alabama, and US 80, 82 and 84 in central Alabama before talking about starting new interstates.

[-=skywalker=-]

Originally Posted by ttownfeen

Why an interstate/freeway? US 72 is four-laned across all of Alabama, unless I'm mistaken. We need to worry about four-laning all the major non-interstate highways in Alabama, such as US 43 in west Alabama, US 431 in east Alabama, and US 80, 82 and 84 in central Alabama before talking about starting new interstates.

US 431 is already 4 lanes from the TN/AL state line to at the very least Anniston, haven't been on it any further south than that. But I can tell you US 231 is only 2 lanes from Arab, AL to Montgomery, that highway should be 4 lanes without a doubt.

[codyg1985]

Originally Posted by ttownfeen

Why an interstate/freeway? US 72 is four-laned across all of Alabama, unless I'm mistaken. We need to worry about four-laning all the major non-interstate highways in Alabama, such as US 43 in west Alabama, US 431 in east Alabama, and US 80, 82 and 84 in central Alabama before talking about starting new interstates.

Huntsville is the largest city in Alabama without an interstate passing through the city. While I-565 does connect Huntsville with I-65, it does not pass through the city to some other city. Huntsville would get more exposure if it had an interstate passing through the city (to Chattanooga or Atlanta). The cities of Memphis, Huntsville, and Chattanooga are connected by US 72, but while it is a four-lane highway, they deserve to be connected with a freeway. Plus, if such a highway were built, it would alleviate I-40 through Tennessee from truck traffic, with other improvements to I-75 and I-24.

[chris21718]

It's true that US 431 is 4-laned to I-20 and US 72 is 4-lane throughout north Alabama, but simple being 4-laned is not enough these days for the busier portions. Long ago, a 4-lane road was nearly as good as a freeway, but the trend now is to put traffic lights all along these once-rural roads rather than build overpasses. I'm sure everyone who has driven US 431 to I-20 knows how bad the Guntersville to Boaz, Attalla to Glencoe, and Saks to Oxford stretches are. It's amazing how many traffic lights there are along all those stretches. US 72 from Huntsville to Athens is also a road to avoid, despite being 4-laned, and so is US 231 north of the freeway portion to Hazel Green and south of the freeway portion to the river.

I'd rather drive most rural 2-lane roads in the state than either of these stretches of 4-lane that I mentioned. Free-flowing traffic without tons of traffic lights should be the goal rather than plain old 4-laners with traffic lights at every intersection.

Saturday night, I was driving back from Gadsden on US 431 to Huntsville, and south of Boaz, I got on AL 205 (the old US 241) and drove it through Boaz and Albertville and the drive was far more pleasant and less stressful due to fewer traffic lights and much lower traffic volume than US 431, despite it being mostly 2-lane.

[codyg1985]

Originally Posted by chris21718

It's true that US 431 is 4-laned to I-20 and US 72 is 4-lane throughout north Alabama, but simple being 4-laned is not enough these days for the busier portions. Long ago, a 4-lane road was nearly as good as a freeway, but the trend now is to put traffic lights all along these once-rural roads rather than build overpasses. I'm sure everyone who has driven US 431 to I-20 knows how bad the Guntersville to Boaz, Attalla to Glencoe, and Saks to Oxford stretches are. It's amazing how many traffic lights there are along all those stretches. US 72 from Huntsville to Athens is also a road to avoid, despite being 4-laned, and so is US 231 north of the freeway portion to Hazel Green and south of the freeway portion to the river.

I'd rather drive most rural 2-lane roads in the state than either of these stretches of 4-lane that I mentioned. Free-flowing traffic without tons of traffic lights should be the goal rather than plain old 4-laners with traffic lights at every intersection.

Saturday night, I was driving back from Gadsden on US 431 to Huntsville, and south of Boaz, I got on AL 205 (the old US 241) and drove it through Boaz and Albertville and the drive was far more pleasant and less stressful due to fewer traffic lights and much lower traffic volume than US 431, despite it being mostly 2-lane.

I totally agree with you there.

ALDOT needs to realize the benefits of access management along four-lane highways. They allow anyone direct access to the highway, which creates the need for traffic signals. Mississippi builds four-lane highways with interchanges at major intersecting routes, but they also limit the development that occurs directly on the highway itself. Driveways and intersections should be limited to at least 500', preferably 1000' between them to ensure better flow on the main highway.

US 431 in Albertville/Boaz, US 280 southeast of Birmingham, and US 72 between Huntsville and Athens are examples of access management thrown out the window. Even US 72 in Scottsboro, which has interchanges at major highways (AL 279 and AL 35), have traffic lights in between them that cause delays in travelers going through the city. If it weren't for those traffic signals, US 72 could easily maintain a 60-65 MPH free-flow speed (FFS) through Scottsboro. Freeways are needed in some locations, but a four-lane highway with proper access management would be cheaper to build than a freeway.

[Colin Giersberg]

I don't totally agree with Mississippi building interchanges as you say. I travel to Memphis several times a year, and there are numerous driveways and sideroads that intersect at ground level. The only interchanges are in Iuka, Corinth, and a few miles before the Tennessee line. Granted, there aren't many traffic lights on Hwy. 72. but then there isn't much of a population density in that area either. Corinth and Iuka are N. Mississippi's most populated "urban" areas on Hwy. 72, and Corinth is a hassle to drive through with all of the traffic signals there. In fact, that is the only major problem on 72. Walnut, MS. is the only other area where there is a signal, and there is only one there. So as urban sprawl comes to N. Mississippi, so will the signals.

Regards, Colin

[HSV79]

Consensus is reached on buildings downtown

Hearing set on height limits: 'Everybody feels voice heard'

The city is a step closer to allowing taller buildings in much of downtown Huntsville.

On Tuesday, the Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for its next meeting, May 26 at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

City planners want to remove the current 10-story, 150-foot height limit from parts of downtown - mostly west and north of the square. However, buildings adjoining the Old Town and Twickenham neighborhoods would be capped at two to six floors.

Also, buildings in those "buffer zones" near residential areas would have to be compatible architecturally with surrounding structures.

Bruce Walker, president of the Old Town Historic District, said he's happy with the latest proposal.

"I think it's good that all sides - the city, the developers and the residents - have come to consensus on this," he said Tuesday.

"Everybody feels that their voice was heard. That's a big difference from when this first started."

For nearly two years, downtown residents and developers have squabbled over how tall downtown buildings should be. The issue became particularly volatile when the city proposed a six-story garage at Lincoln Street and Holmes Avenue, across from a neighborhood. A developer planned an adjoining apartment building on the garage.

Walker said Old Town residents seem OK with the recommended two-story height cap on buildings closest to homes, and three- to six-floor limits across the street from residential areas. The changes would apply only to new construction, not existing structures.

Commercial developer Scott McLain said people should not expect a rash of new skyscrapers once the cap is lifted. The lack of parking and large parcels make it tough to create truly tall buildings downtown, he said Tuesday.

McLain noted that the largest building announced for his own redevelopment project, Constellation, at South Memorial Parkway and Clinton Avenue, is a six-story SpringHill Suites hotel scheduled to break ground in May.

"We are quite happy with the proposed revisions" for unlimited building heights in part of downtown, he said Tuesday. "My conversations with other developers indicate that most all are quite pleased."

Several downtown landmarks, including the 1920s Times Building and the Russel Erskine Hotel building, exceed 10 floors. But they were built before height caps recommended by the city's 1989 Downtown Master Plan and finally approved in January 2007.

© 2009 The Huntsville Times. All rights reserved.

[HSVTiger]

A $20 million-plus makeover of the aging Von Braun Center is about to take center stage.

On Friday, construction firms interested in bidding on the work will get their first opportunity to review the plans. They will then have three weeks - until May 21 - to submit bids to the city.
The arena is getting a soaring glass lobby overlooking Big Spring International Park, wider concourses, a pub grill with patio seating and more women's restrooms to end the notoriously long lines.
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletim...050.xml&coll=1

[David1502]

Mellow Mushroom should be opening in the next couple of weeks as the walls are up and painted, kitchen equipment is in place and the flat screen T.V.s are operating (all this I observed last night). Can't wait for it to open.
As successful as Providence has been (at least on the commercial side of things, residential not quite as much) it would seem the much anticipated Hyatt Place may be built there sooner than later. The Homewood Suites has a high occupancy rate (often full on week nights) and many other HSV hotels stay booked, too (all of the Hilton properties, - two Hilton Garden Inns, Embassy Suites and Hampton Inns as well as the Marriott properties and the Comfort Inns). With such a strong market, it would seem that Hyatt would be confident to invest in this market when they see how well others have done. Another hotel will give a greater synergy to support the restaurants at Providence - (Grille 29 has not been as busy since Bridge Street opened.)

[HSVTiger]

Nice pic of the Space and Rocket Center from the Huntsville Times.
Monte Sano mountain in the background

[stallty]

http://i41.tinypic.com/2rgg9pz.jpg

http://locad.nasa.gov/conference/local.html

This is my favorite picture of the Space and Rocket Center, maybe even of huntsville.

[neilson]

Thoughts on the Swine Flu outbreak in Huntsville and Madison, and the way the local authorities are helping to combat the spread?

My opinion: Madison has issues in this department by allowing for all the kids to feed into 1 single High School. Lot of close contact at overcrowded schools like Bob Jones and I think that's just 1 more reason a new High School is needed. This outbreak may have started with 2 kids at Heritage Elementary but you don't need relatives and family members being able to spread it in areas of close contact.

[HSVTiger]

New facility at the Intermodal Center hopes to attract Chinese freighter..

More than 250 invited guests attended the grand opening of the 92,000-square-foot facility with a theme of "An Evening in the Orient."

Mitch Bradley, director of the Intermodal Center, said the benefits of the new $7 million air cargo building are twofold.

"It allows us to attract Asian carriers to come into the area," he said. "We've got Europe covered. That helps our local companies to have cargo readily available instead of trucking it in from Atlanta."

China's emerging economy has not gone unnoticed by Bradley and other officials at Huntsville International Airport, which operates the center.

"Everything we get is made in China," Bradley said.

The European air freights service Bradley referred to is Panalpina's daily chartered freight flights between Huntsville and Luxembourg. The new air cargo facility is almost a copy of and is attached to the 100,000-square-foot air cargo facility that Panalpina has used since 1990.

Bradley said Huntsville is an attractive location to air cargo freight forwarders such as Panalpina because it is less congested and can clear freight faster than other gateways in Atlanta and Dallas.

"We can do it cheaper, faster and better," he said.

The new air cargo facility on Wall Triana Highway features two 20-foot-by-70-foot bay doors, and has the capacity for 5,250 square feet of cold storage. Bradley said the bay doors are large enough to bring a helicopter inside the building.

[codyg1985]

Originally Posted by Colin Giersberg

I don't totally agree with Mississippi building interchanges as you say. I travel to Memphis several times a year, and there are numerous driveways and sideroads that intersect at ground level. The only interchanges are in Iuka, Corinth, and a few miles before the Tennessee line. Granted, there aren't many traffic lights on Hwy. 72. but then there isn't much of a population density in that area either. Corinth and Iuka are N. Mississippi's most populated "urban" areas on Hwy. 72, and Corinth is a hassle to drive through with all of the traffic signals there. In fact, that is the only major problem on 72. Walnut, MS. is the only other area where there is a signal, and there is only one there. So as urban sprawl comes to N. Mississippi, so will the signals.

Regards, Colin

There are plans to build a bypass of Corinth for US 72 traffic. The stretches of US 72 east and west of Corinth were widened after MDOT started allowing only limited driveway permits. The stretch through Corinth was built before MDOT started building bypasses of sizable cities. There are still roads that haven't been upgraded or bypasses in MS like this (US 45 in Columbus, US 278 in Tupelo & Amory), but there are plans to build bypasses for those roads.

To get back to the topic, I just feel that ALDOT should be able to build an expressway-type road (four-lane divided road with limited at-grade intersections) without there having to be a bypass built around a bypass because sprawl and reckless driveway connections were allowed on that road. Let smaller roads handle the collection of traffic from stores and homes close to the expressway and then those smaller roads would connect to the main at one intersection instead of an intersection for each business and home along the route.

[chris21718]

I do notice that Mississippi seems to know how to build 4-lane bypasses much better than Alabama does. Mississippi tends to avoid traffic signals as much as possible (often building overpasses instead) and tries to prevent the bypass from becoming another shopping center strip, while Alabama plans for a bypass to be for new shopping development from the beginning. This means that any large business in town moves to the bypass, or any new business or shopping center gets built right on the bypass and requires a traffic light for the street intersecting where it's built, or if it's a Wal-Mart, they get their own traffic light. Before long, the old road through town has a bunch of old run-down shopping centers and the bypass is no longer a bypass, but a congested, frustrating 4-lane road with tons of stops.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by chris21718

Before long, the old road through town has a bunch of old run-down shopping centers and the bypass is no longer a bypass, but a congested, frustrating 4-lane road with tons of stops.

You forgot to add those shops being on top of the road, making it virtually impossible to have an overpass, much less expanding the road.

[Colin Giersberg]

Originally Posted by chris21718

I do notice that Mississippi seems to know how to build 4-lane bypasses much better than Alabama does. Mississippi tends to avoid traffic signals as much as possible (often building overpasses instead) and tries to prevent the bypass from becoming another shopping center strip, while Alabama plans for a bypass to be for new shopping development from the beginning. This means that any large business in town moves to the bypass, or any new business or shopping center gets built right on the bypass and requires a traffic light for the street intersecting where it's built, or if it's a Wal-Mart, they get their own traffic light. Before long, the old road through town has a bunch of old run-down shopping centers and the bypass is no longer a bypass, but a congested, frustrating 4-lane road with tons of stops.

As far as your statement is concerned, when Mdot builds a bypass in northern MS, the population density is nowhere near what we have around here, so naturally, they can limit the driveway connections. We don't have that luxury here. I work for ALDOT in Moulton, and I don't have the answers. ALDOT does stupid stuff, granted.
US. 72 between Athens and Huntsville needs widening in the worst way, but due to all of the homes and businesses alongside it, the work would be prohibitively expensive. The highway was built in different years that resulted in different roadway grades between the eastbound and westbound lanes. To correct this, and it will have to be one of the first things to be fixed, will require building up the lower sections, or cutting down the higher sections so that the grades match from one side to the other, as well as allow for any super-elevation that would need to be incorporated into the curves. Only then could the median be properly constructed and filled in and the shoulders cut out, rebuilt for the increased loads on them, and incorporated into the normal travel lanes. Plus, new shoulders would have to be added for safety.
All intersections and driveway entrances would have to be rebuilt, or eliminated to smooth traffic flow. How long do you think this will take, much less cost? My guess is between 5 and 10 million dollars per mile where the worst congestion is and somewhat less in the rural areas, but I could be off by several million dollars per mile, and not on the less expensive side. This is just for the construction phase. It does not even factor in right of way purchases which will add several more million dollars to the cost. Also, as ALDOT fast-tracks this (yeah, right), traffic will increase, the costs will go up, and we will cry a whole lot more because of the carnage and the delays that take place before, and during construction. Just because you have a set of plans does not guarantee that the work will go smoothly. There are problems in the design that need to be addressed, work issues will come up that need attention, weather will slow work, and whatever else could happen probably will. Funding may be late, or could be pulled altogether for a period of time. These are some of the issues, and I am sure there are many more that will come up when the work is scheduled, and in progress.

Regards, Colin

[tredici]

I never dreamed that US 72 would become Huntsville's 280