Huntsville

[bugo]

I didn't realize Huntsville was in Madison County.  Huntsville, AR is also in Madison County.

Yeah, I realized that a quite back. I wonder which Huntsville was founded first? Now if only Huntsville, AR gets involved with aerospace somehow.

Huntsville, AR has a Governor Road (named after well known white supremacist governor Orval Faubus.)  Huntsville, AL has a Governor's Drive.

[jdb1234]

Arrived in Huntsville earlier today, saw a clearview sign for UAH an the service road for I-565 at the Sparkman/Bob Wallace Ave intersection.

Also, I read this morning that US 72 is going to be upgraded to a freeway east of I-565 for a few miles, but it will be a few years before construction starts.

[codyg1985]

Arrived in Huntsville earlier today, saw a clearview sign for UAH an the service road for I-565 at the Sparkman/Bob Wallace Ave intersection.

Also, I read this morning that US 72 is going to be upgraded to a freeway east of I-565 for a few miles, but it will be a few years before construction starts.

I attended the public meeting for that project last week. Here are some of the images I got from one of the maps:

Plan views:
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4 (sorry for the blurriness)
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
Photo 10
Photo 11

Cross-sections:
Photo 12
Photo 13

I couldn't get a straight answer on whether it would be designed to interstate specs. The main lanes will have full paved shoulders, but the question is the curve at the beginning of the project. The ALDOT reps were not sure of the exact design speed of the curve. I got anywhere from 55 mph to 65 mph, so I guess we will see. I can't see it being anymore than 60. ROW acquisition should begin later this year or early next year, with design happening next year. Construction could begin late 2011 or in 2012. The service roads will be built first, and then the main lanes will be built in a separate project right after ths service roads are finished.

It should be noted that this project does not eliminate the at-grade intersection with Epworth Drive at the top of Chapman Mountain. This will be converted to an interchange later on. The project appears on the ALDOT Five Year Plan, but the ALDOT represenatives at the meeting said that project would be paid for by the City of Huntsville.

[froggie]

I couldn't get a straight answer on whether it would be designed to interstate specs.

Based on that cross-section, it's not.  For a narrow/urban median, I-spec would be a 10ft inside shoulder, which in conjunction with the median barrier means a minimum 22ft median.  Those cross-sections show an 18ft median.

[codyg1985]

Arrived in Huntsville earlier today, saw a clearview sign for UAH an the service road for I-565 at the Sparkman/Bob Wallace Ave intersection.

There'a also Clearview UAHuntsville signs along University/US 72 on either side of the Sparkman Dr. interchange. Also, there's a Clearview sign along US 231/431/Memorial Pkwy southbound just north of US 431/Governors Drive.

[Alps]

I couldn't get a straight answer on whether it would be designed to interstate specs.

Based on that cross-section, it's not.  For a narrow/urban median, I-spec would be a 10ft inside shoulder, which in conjunction with the median barrier means a minimum 22ft median.  Those cross-sections show an 18ft median.

That's not true at all.  10 ft is the desired minimum, but offhand I believe the absolute minimum is 4' to 6'.  Maybe it's even 8', but I know it's not 10'.  If it's 8', there's your 18 ft median right there.

[froggie]

I have the doc straight from AASHTO.  10ft minimum for an urban cross section.  Numerous locations where less exists, of course, but those all require waivers.  The 4ft minimum is for rural 4-lane cross-sections.

[Alps]

I must be remembering state agency standards then, because my memory says "12ft right, 10ft left desirable; 10ft right, 8ft left min"...

[Grzrd]

Huntsville Times: New route for Patriot Parkway in 2035 plan

Draft Huntsville HMO 2035 long-range transportation plan (PDF

Here is Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Growth Coordination Plan of 2009 that is referenced in the proposed Constitutional Amendment regarding transportation (it is mentioned in regard to Redstone Arsenal) that will be voted on in November:

http://www.tvrgcp.com/final_reports/task7_transportation_042309.pdf

It was financed by Department of Defense to assess impact of incoming military personnel to Redstone Arsenal on surrounding area.  I just glanced through it and nothing jumped out at me.  I did think it might be interesting for those with interest in Huntsville to compare to the "2035" document.

[codyg1985]

Huntsville Times: New route for Patriot Parkway in 2035 plan

Draft Huntsville HMO 2035 long-range transportation plan (PDF

Here is Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Growth Coordination Plan of 2009 that is referenced in the proposed Constitutional Amendment regarding transportation (it is mentioned in regard to Redstone Arsenal) that will be voted on in November:

http://www.tvrgcp.com/final_reports/task7_transportation_042309.pdf

It was financed by Department of Defense to assess impact of incoming military personnel to Redstone Arsenal on surrounding area.  I just glanced through it and nothing jumped out at me.  I did think it might be interesting for those with interest in Huntsville to compare to the "2035" document.

I agree with everything except that the overpasses at US 72 and Moores Mill Rd/Shields Rd or US 72/Epworth Dr are not mentioned in that document. That is a pressing need that needs to be addressed ASAP. I also don't understand why the Weatherly Rd Extension is included since there is no mention of the Southern Bypass in that document, especially since the Army canned the routing of it. I guess the Weatherly Rd Extension would allow people to go jump into a swamp or something. Also, their routing of the eastern bypass doesn't agree with the one presented at the ALDOT planning meeting a few weeks ago, which shows a much shorter and (IMO) and more sensible routing for the eastern bypass.

[Bryant5493]

Quick question: Coming from Atlanta, what's the best way to come into Huntsville? Follow U.S. 278 West to U.S. 431 North, or follow I-20 West to I-65 North to I-565 East? I'm planning a daytrip, to get footage of U.S. 231/Memorial Pkwy. and I-565. I'm leaning towards the former routing, to get footage of I-759 in Gadsden.


Be well,

Bryant

[codyg1985]

Another option is to follow I-75 to Chattanooga, then I-24 west to US 72, then US 72 west to Huntsville. The former option you mentioned means a lot of red lights, especially on US 431.

[Bryant5493]

^^ Okay. Thanks, Cody.


Be well,

Bryant

[Bryant5493]

Speaking of Huntsville... nice vid, Cody.

Be well,

Bryant

[codyg1985]

^ Thanks, Bryant. I need to find a way to get a tripod to sit in the front passenger floorboard of my car. It won't fit, so I haven't done anymore videos yet.

[Bryant5493]

^^

You're welcome. How do you feel about using velcro to mount the camera to your dashboard? That's another alternative. I haven't had too much luck, myself, with using a tripod.


Be well,

Bryant

[Bryant5493]

Here's I-565 in its entirety.

Be well,

Bryant

[codyg1985]

^ Nice video, Bryant! What was going on at the beginning with the lens going in and out of focus?
It's crazy how far west Huntsville's city limits extend. They have been annexing land out in Limestone County for a while now, almost completely boxing in Madison.

That last interchange of I-565 with US 72 west was built around 2003 or so. Plans are to extend the limited access portion over the mountain to past Shields Rd. There's also talk of extending I-565 to the west towards Decatur as well.

[Bryant5493]

^^

Thanks, Cody. I noticed it (the in/out of focus) when I was editing the video. I don't know what it was. I guess the mount was a bit shaky in those few moments. It did that on another video that I'm editing: AL 759/I-759. It's the first time that it's done that.

I'd read that, about I-565 being extended in either direction: east and west. I would've gotten some footage in Decatur, but I was running out of SD card space and time. I'll save that for another time, I guess.

Thanks again!


Be well,

Bryant

[SSF]

^ Nice video, Bryant! What was going on at the beginning with the lens going in and out of focus?
It's crazy how far west Huntsville's city limits extend. They have been annexing land out in Limestone County for a while now, almost completely boxing in Madison.

That last interchange of I-565 with US 72 west was built around 2003 or so. Plans are to extend the limited access portion over the mountain to past Shields Rd. There's also talk of extending I-565 to the west towards Decatur as well.

Where would the western extension go?

[codyg1985]

^ It would overlay existing AL 20/Alt US 72 west from I-65 to US 31. It may go past there to the Tennessee River Bridge, but not past there.

[Bryant5493]

Be well,

Bryant

[codyg1985]

^ Nice videos of the Governors Drive and Memorial Pkwy construction projects!

[Bryant5493]

^^

Thanks. I've got one more vid from Huntsville and a few from Scottsboro on into Kimball, via U.S. 72.


Be well,

Bryant

[Bryant5493]

Thanks to Alex for telling me about this road.


Be well,

Bryant