Erica Techo
A conceptual drawing showing potential changes to the intersection of County roads 39 and 47. Rendering courtesy of Sain Associates.
By this time next year, the intersection in front of Chelsea City Hall could look significantly different, County Engineer Randy Cole said tonight.
Addressing the Shelby County Commission at its Jan. 22 meeting, Cole said engineering work to realign Shelby County 39 and 47 is beginning.
“We have a problem there at the railroad crossing, frequently,” Cole said. “We had a fatality at that railroad crossing. We’ve had tractor-trailer trucks get stuck on the railroad crossing.”
The project, Cole said, would bring the new road alignment through the property at the corner of the intersection, where the Weldon store used to be. Shelby 47 would end in a cul-de-sac at the spot of the current intersection, and Shelby 39 would extend through the old Weldon store property and up toward Chelsea Middle School, according to a map Cole provided to the Commission. Shelby 47, toward Columbiana, would pick up north of the Chelsea Community Center. That intersection would be several hundred feet from the railroad crossing, which would prevent traffic from backing up over the tracks, Cole said.
“Engineering is beginning on this project. We’re hoping to let it to bid in the summertime, and perhaps by this time next year, we’re riding on it,” Cole said. After it is underway, Cole said the work could take between six to nine months.
The project was previously discussed with residents at an August public involvement meeting, but at that time no exact timeline was known. Cole said one reason the project was able to advance was due to Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer’s partnership in the project.
“This is a Shelby County/ Chelsea joint venture,” Cole said. “Mayor Picklesimer agreed to put $1.5 million toward this project, and that probably is going to be approximately half [of the cost] at this point. We don’t have a firm number.”
Also at that intersection, County Manager Alex Dudchock said there are plans to relocate and replace a water line. The county is currently engaging engineering work for the relocation of an undersized PVC line, and the line will be relocated along the new route of the road, Dudchock said.
Commissioner Robbie Hayes, who represents Chelsea, said that this work at the intersection will play into the city’s work to become an Alabama Community of Excellence. The city held an assessment day with ACE last week, during which ideas for development and future plans were discussed.
Also at the meeting, the commission:
- Approved ALDOT contracts for work on Shelby County 52 and Alabama 155.
- Approved April 7 and Oct. 6 as the 2018 free landfill days.
- Approved alcohol beverage licenses for Spring Creek Package Store and Spring Creek Grocery.
- Awarded a bid for cleaning and painting the Shelby County 42 bridge superstructure.
- Approved a resolution in support of legislation that would bring privately-owned sewer systems which use public rights of way of public roads under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. This legislation was introduced last week, according to former commissioner and current state Rep. Corley Ellis. The resolution was a way for the commission to show its support and appreciation of the legislation, according to the resolution.
- Heard a presentation from Energize Kentucky, a program administrator that works with property owners to secure funding for qualified energy projects. Dudchock asked Chris Jones, director of PACE financing for Energize Kentucky, to speak in front of the commission, as Jones might be able to help property owners in Shelby County secure PACE financing for their capital improvement projects.
