HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The City of Huntsville and the Alabama Department of Transportation announced Friday that upcoming road work will impact traffic for months on North Memorial Parkway.
The City of Huntsville said single-lane closures northbound on North Memorial Parkway near Bob Wade Lane would start on Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.
These closures are part of the Huntsville Northern Bypass Project that started June 2023.
ALDOT said closures on both the northbound and southbound lanes would affect outside lanes during non-peak hours over the next six months.
Construction was believed to start in 2019 but did not officially start construction until June 2023.
Seth Burkett with the Alabama Department of Transportation told News 19 in 2018 that the overpass would reduce delays from congestion around the intersection.
“The heavy traffic flow can just bypass that intersection completely. This can lead to improvements in safety and certainly speeds up the drive for motorists,” Burkett said.
Although the project is expected to be completed in 3 years, Burkett said the time frame could be longer pending weather delays and other factors.
This bypass project is part of an initiative called Restore Our Roads, led by Mayor Tommy Battle. The ROR initiative resulted in a $250 million cost-sharing agreement between the City of Huntsville and ALDOT to complete major road projects in key parts of the city.
Projects include new overpasses and access roads. According to the city’s website, seven projects have already been completed and two are currently under construction. Here is the list of projects included in the initiative, according to the city:
- Highway 231/South Parkway at Lily Flagg
- Martin Road interchange (complete)
North Parkway at Mastin Lake (to be finished by summer 2025) - Improvements to Research Park Boulevard (complete)
- Highway 72 West/University Drive (environmental and ROW acquisition)
- Cecil Ashburn Drive (complete)
- The new Northern Bypass (under construction)
- Widening of Zierdt Road (complete)
- Realignment and widening of Church Street (complete)
- The new Dr. Joseph Lowery Boulevard (complete)
- Improvements to Highway 72 East (complete)
The Northern Bypass is a multi-million dollar project, which will create a circular like roadway concept in the center of the city. Huntsville has committed just over $2 million of the $40 million cost of the project, with federal funds covering the remaining cost.
It will connect multiple roadways together, including North Memorial Parkway to Winchester Road, U.S. 72 East, U.S. 431 South, Cecil Ashburn Drive, and South Memorial Parkway.
Drivers are advised to use extreme caution when driving through the construction areas and to expect delays on the roadways.
