By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Jefferson County Commission has a plan to widen North Chalkville Road from Boulder Drive to Interstate 59.
Commissioner Joe Knight said a lane will be added to get drivers to the interstate quicker. There will also be turn lanes added to Green Drive and Pineview Road, for those wanting to turn left onto North Chalkville Road.
“This is one of the main projects that they are going to zero in on and do,” Knight said.
The part of North Chalkville Road from Boulder Drive to Green Drive will have to be studied closely because of a drop-off. The road could be shifted or some fill work may be done, depending on how much room is needed. Knight said those details will not be known until the study on that specific area is complete. He did say he believes a guardrail will be added to that area of the roadway.
Knight said he has heard many complaints about the area and he has experienced traffic issues in that area himself. He went to Roads and Transportation and asked for them to take a close look at the issue after hearing from drivers.
“We have been looking at this for a while because we know that we need to do something,” Knight said. “Me and [Trussville Mayor] Buddy Choat went out a while back and talked about how we could make this better.”
Some of the plans for North Chalkville Road were delayed because of COVID, but Knight said things are now getting back on track. Although he believes the changes will make traffic flow better, he said there will still be challenges for the growing city of Trussville.
“It won’t completely alleviate it but it will be a lot better,” he added.
The county is also looking into synchronizing traffic lights once the work is complete.
Knight said the work is part of the Commission’s Five-Year Plan. They still have to complete land acquisitions and engineering studies. That phase of the project will begin sometime this year. The target completion date will be sometime in 2023.
Funds for the project will come from the budget and is part of the County’s Capital Plan.
Trussville City Council President Alan Taylor spoke about the project at the end of the City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 22. He said he has been stuck in traffic himself and has identified another problem.
“This is a county road and I know they can widen it but the issue we’ve got there is all the cuts into the road,” said Taylor. “I sat there and watched. Between people coming out of the McDonald’s, the Wendy’s, the Cracker Barrel, and then on the other side, people moving and merging in and people waiting for people to turn. I don’t think it’s a red light issue, I think it’s all the people that’s there coming out on those shortcuts.”
Another addition will be a right turn lane from Interstate 59 North to North Chalkville Road. That work will be completed by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).
In the photo provided by the Jefferson County Commission, you can view all of the proposed changes.
