Businesses organizing in opposition to 280 changes

As change looms for U.S. 280, businesses are organizing to bring awareness of potential effects.

Last month, representatives from seven area property owners and retailers met to discuss the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT’s) project to amend 27 intersections between Hollywood and Doug Baker Boulevards. After establishing that time to voice their opinions is short – the project is slated to be bid this month – they decided to move quickly in attempting to attain a meeting with Gov. Robert Bentley.

The group, organized by Absco Patio owner Scott Buzbee and New Balance Store owner Wesley McCluney, is primarily focused on projected changes to intersections between Cahaba Park Circle and Resource Center Parkway. They said they believe the proposed intersection and signal changes would reduce traffic flow on the area’s access roads and could negatively affect the area as a whole.

“Keep in mind ALDOT is not interested in our profits,” McCluney said in a statement. “However, they would be interested in safety concerns and would be interested in our businesses remaining open to keep out empty buildings and crime.”

McCluney said word from Bentley's office is that the project would be amended after its implementation if it proved ineffective. However, ALDOT Division 3 Engineer Brian Davis said, while he couldn't speak for the Governor, he feels the planned changes will improve 280.

"People often resist change, but not all change is bad," Davis said. "I'm very confident in this design and believe that after it's completed it will be a positive change, but I also believe we are open-minded enough that if it doesn’t function like we think it's going to, we'll go back and look at what needs to be done to make it right."

Buzbee and McCluney said they would seek an audience with Bentley as soon as possible, but in the meantime would serve as an organization point for area businesses and residents seeking more information on the projected changes.

Buzbee also said project authorities at ALDOT and Skipper Consulting, a Birmingham-based firm hired to assist with the intersection improvements, confirmed recently that a left-turn lane accessing his property would remain despite being drawn out of the proposal. Davis said he couldn't confirm without reviewing the approved drawings but believed that was the case. Davis did confirm it would be an unsignalized turn.

For more on the local organization effort, email abscopatio@aol.com or wesmccluney@newbalanceatlanta.com.

For more on ALDOT's 280 intersection project, click here.