Dear ALDOT: Drivers recommend further changes to U.S. 280

In 2013, as awareness was growing regarding the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Intersection Improvement Plan for U.S. 280, several local business owners approached Gov. Robert Bentley with their concerns. They reported Bentley’s office told them the “project would be amended after its implementation if it proved ineffective.”

Following a survey of 280 drivers, the changes appear in line with what ALDOT predicted and, in fact, wanted when designing the plan. Flow has been improved overall, but access to side streets — and the residences and businesses on them — requires more effort.

The $15 million effort undertaken by the State of Alabama appears to have satisfied the majority of drivers, but some on the corridor feel there is more work to be done.

Overall suggestions

• “Safety and signage need to be readdressed and regularly. Signage (i.e. ‘No Left Turn’) is too small and not noticeable. Not mentioned here, but the cement divider at the entrance to The Summit is a failure. Traffic backs up much longer and into 280 drive lanes more regularly, even when there are no cars turning left in from the 280 eastbound lane. Highway 119 needs more lanes at the intersection of 280. Also, the left turn signal at 280 and Highway 119 needs to cycle more frequently in the evening.”

• “Improvements to the Highway 119 and 280 intersection are crucial.”

• “An elevated road would be much better. Make it one-way, headed into town in the a.m. and out of town in the p.m. Make it a toll road to cover costs. I can’t get to shops on the other side of the road now, so it would let me shop on 280 again. All those who want to go from point A to point B could do so without shoppers slowing them down.”

• “Why not have 280 lower instead of the suggested elevated road (huge eyesore)? Leave the existing side roads and simply exit up to gain access where needed. A red-light free Highway 280 with designated exit ramps, a novel idea!”

Backups at Cahaba Park Circle and Key Drive

• “Change the four-way stop to a three-way, like at the intersection at the Best Buy entrance, so traffic turning from 280 doesn’t have to stop. A lot of times, cars turning left off of 280 get backed up and can’t get through the light.”

Traffic around The Summit affecting flow

• “The traffic from I-459 merging onto 280 East at the Colonnade is still a huge train wreck. That is a massive amount of traffic merging with a massive amount of traffic.”

• “While, in my opinion, all the changes have been positive and thoughtful, there still needs to be some work around The Summit area. The off ramp from I-459 creates a bottleneck for people trying to enter The Summit.”

• “A flyover is needed at 280 and I-459.”

• “They should have left the Florida cut off road a right-only from the right lane before you get on 280 and not allowed anyone to cross over to it. To get on 280 and get off again for The Summit adds unnecessary traffic, which is what they were trying to get rid of.”

Stuck on Brook Highland Parkway

• “The right turn lane on Brook Highland Parkway needs to be extended. Plus, people continually block the left turn lane onto 280 just so they can go straight across.”

Larger signs at Hugh Daniel Drive

• “The sign showing that you cannot go straight needs to be bigger.”

Drivers still trying to turn left onto Valleydale

• “Signage is poor, without the help of a gas-powered intersection sign. Road arrows are missing from no turn lanes. Cement median was constructed with angles on both sides as though a left turn onto Valleydale is permissible. Strobe lights may be needed with the red lights at the eastbound U-turn (Party City side) because I’ve seen cars slide through the intersection at the top of the hill not preparing.”

• “The No Left Turn sign needs to be bigger and maybe be a lighted sign. Cars are still try to make a left turn, and this could be dangerous as you are traveling and have stop because someone is not paying attention to the small signs.”

Cut-through into Inverness Corners dangerous

• “I’m pleased, but motorists are still trying to make a left off of 280 onto Valleydale. Also, the opening that allows cars to shortcut across 280 into the shopping center at Winn Dixie is very dangerous and should be closed! Cars cannot see around the cars waiting at the Michigan U-turn. They will pull out into the lanes and cause 280 flow to stop. I have had a friend rear-ended there and seen a lot of near misses of T-bone accidents.”

• “I run a small business on Valleydale Road as well as live on it. Since they have removed the light, my commute to get home from 280 has increased by 20 minutes because of having to wait for the U-turn light or risk getting stuck in a very long line of cars attempting to turn just before Valleydale. My clients are also having trouble getting to their appointments on time because of having to go past Valleydale, wait at another light and then try to get onto Valleydale. Living and working on Valleydale has become a terrible inconvenience, so much that my boyfriend and I are planning on moving this coming year.”

• “280 West traffic should not be allowed to turn left into the shopping center with Winn-Dixie and Kohls. That is an unprotected turn that many folks seem to think is protected. It also causes backups into the travel lanes because of the volume of cars waiting in line to turn there simply to avoid the Valleydale U-turn. I believe that left turn from 280 West should be removed and require folks to use the Valleydale U-turn.”