QuoteDiscussions of extending Interstate 759 to U.S. Highway 431 have been held in the community for years. Those discussions still continue, but after a recent meeting with between local and state officials, they will do so without calling it an interstate.
The I-759 Extension project is now referred to as the Gadsden Eastern Connector, according to members of the Gadsden-Etowah Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
During a meeting on Thursday, members said the project was renamed in order to make the extension more likely to become a reality – although a recent development in the community may provide an unexpected hurdle in the project.
Interstate highways are federal roadways, which means that such roads require communities to meet strict criteria during construction while dealing with federal funds.
″[We] removed the designation of it being called the I-759 Extension because that complicated it more with it being an interstate extension," said Curtis Vincent, North Region engineer for the Alabama Department of Transportation. "So now we're referring to it as the Eastern Connector, which will allow us to put state moneys or other moneys towards it and not have to jump through the hoops and hurdles that we would if it were an interstate."
https://www.gadsdentimes.com/news/20200109/i-759-extension-rebranded-in-effort-to-get-state-local-funding
Will the 759 corridor ever be extended west to bypass Attalla? The 59/759 junction was built with a western extension in mind, and I recall 431 through Attalla being a bit of a pain.
The last time this came up was in 2017, and by then it was emphatically not an Interstate, not a freeway, but a six-lane arterial with intersections at George Wallace Drive and US 278 and 431 at their current intersection, plus RIRO's at a few local streets. Plan view: http://www.cityofgadsden.com/DocumentCenter/View/1468/Map-of-759-Proposed-Route?bidId=
What do the locals have to say about an Interstate 759 extension in either direction? Has there been significant support or significant opposition to this project?
Thought of this because I-759 was mentioned in the "Bannered Routes" thread here:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=35450.msg2953749;topicseen#msg2953749
Turns out the project has been funded and construction was supposed to start this year:
https://www.cityofgadsden.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1133
https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/05/04/aldot-director-said-759-connector-project-take-five-years/9643103002/
The latter link has a rendering of a provisional routing for the 759 extension, though not sure if that ended up being the finalized route.
And an interactive map:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/61349ff46d4644bead23a0fb4df796da/?data_id=dataSource_2-1634c32abae6418082dcd771168b99c8%3A499
Quote from: TheStranger on November 27, 2024, 09:21:41 PMAnd an interactive map:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/61349ff46d4644bead23a0fb4df796da/?data_id=dataSource_2-1634c32abae6418082dcd771168b99c8%3A499 (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/61349ff46d4644bead23a0fb4df796da/?data_id=dataSource_2-1634c32abae6418082dcd771168b99c8%3A499)
I'm impressed that the ATN's line through there is still labeled as the L&N, at least four decades after the L&N ceased to exist!
Quote from: freebrickproductions on November 27, 2024, 09:23:41 PMQuote from: TheStranger on November 27, 2024, 09:21:41 PMAnd an interactive map:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/61349ff46d4644bead23a0fb4df796da/?data_id=dataSource_2-1634c32abae6418082dcd771168b99c8%3A499 (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/61349ff46d4644bead23a0fb4df796da/?data_id=dataSource_2-1634c32abae6418082dcd771168b99c8%3A499)
I'm impressed that the ATN's line through there is still labeled as the L&N, at least four decades after the L&N ceased to exist!
That seems to be a common thing with rail lines. I still see "D&H" and "B&M" used even though neither has existed in a long time.
I guess at this point, just go forward with this option and then in about 10 years seek money to upgrade it to a I-759 extension but only if growth warrants it. This is better than the current situation.
The western extension around to 431 would be just as warranted. People with campers going up to Lake Guntersville could avoid going through downtown Attalla and save a good 10 minutes.
Hopefully, this will get done before the Birmingham Northern Beltline does.
Quote from: Henry on November 28, 2024, 08:46:44 PMHopefully, this will get done before the Birmingham Northern Beltline does.
TBF, I'd imagine the heat death of the universe will occur long before the Birmingham Northern Beltline is completed.
Spent the past several weeks fleshing out what this extension might look like if it were an Interstate. That and a western extension bypassing Attalla are now posted in a Fictional thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10783.msg2962902#msg2962902).
Hopefully, if this is actually built, the East Gadsen signs on US 411 will have AL 759 shields as well.