Roadwork to begin on Valleydale

Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey says residents can expect construction to begin on the widening of Valleydale Road in the next four to six years. In the meantime, they could see a smoother ride by the end of 2014.

Last month, the Shelby County Commission approved the Alabama Department of Transportation to proceed with a project to resurface Valleydale Road. Shelby County Engineer Randy Cole said the resurfacing will extend from Caldwell Mill Road to U.S. 280. 

Cole predicted the project would be bid in July and construction could begin by September. Resurfacing work would take place at night as not to disrupt traffic through the already congested area.

The resurfacing project is entirely separate from the city of Hoover’s plan to widen the road in the same area. 

Ivey said the city, Shelby County and ALDOT completed the preliminary design and environmental assessment phases for the widening project. Last fall, the Hoover City Council approved a supplemental agreement with Volkert Inc. to provide right-of-way acquisition services. Volkert was also responsible for environmental studies, field surveys and securing corridor approval for the project.

“This phase is expected to last anywhere from one to two years depending upon the number and complexity of any issues that arise,” Ivey said. “Once the right-of-way has been obtained, the next phase to be completed is utility relocation.”

Ivey said numerous large utilities adjacent to this 3.5-mile section of roadway will have to be relocated, including a stretch of high power transmission lines. His conservative estimate was that this phase would require two to three years to complete.

“Once the utilities have been relocated, then the project is ready for construction,” Ivey said. “Construction is expected to take 24 to 36 months to complete. Starting construction of this project in four to six years is a reasonable estimate.”

Discussions about widening the road began in 1999, but the Hoover City Council didn’t launch the project until 2011. Last year, projected costs for the widening exceeded $12 million.

This year’s resurfacing project is connected to the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation Improvement program, which Gov. Robert Bentley’s office announced in 2013. With this program, local governments provide a 20 percent match for identified projects.

Cole said other ATRIP projects that will commence this summer include the resurfacing of Shelby County 52 and Shelby County 93 — Caldwell Mill Road and Cahaba Valley Trace between Valleydale Road and Alabama Highway 119. In 2013, these projects were predicted to cost $458,920, and resurfacing Valleydale Road was projected at a total cost of $1,216,270.