Birmingham Northern Beltline (I-422, I-959)

[codyg1985]

The infrastructure bill could mean $369 million to go towards the construction of the beltline: https://abc3340.com/news/local/us-infrastructure-bill-could-mean-future-progress-on-jefferson-county-northern-beltline

[froggie]

So they'll get maybe 3 miles done?  Not worth it.

[tjcreasy]

Per the article, scheduled completion of the beltway is 2054, wow.

[achilles765]

this sounds like the dumbest project ever.

North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas just said, "Hold my beer!"

Hey now, throwing Texas in there isn't fair,  All of our new routes make sense and serve a valid purpose. 

[sprjus4]

^ In fairness, as does most of North Carolina's.

I-74 south of Bolton might be the exception there, however... but I don't think that project will ever come to fruition.

[Henry]

Per the article, scheduled completion of the beltway is 2054, wow.

It started back in 2014, so the project's going to take 40 years. Forty, damn, YEARS!!!

By comparison, even the pre-1991 Interstates didn't take that long to be completed, and they were 42,500 miles compared to 52 miles for a northern loop around Birmingham.

[codyg1985]

Per the article, scheduled completion of the beltway is 2054, wow.

It started back in 2014, so the project's going to take 40 years. Forty, damn, YEARS!!!

By comparison, even the pre-1991 Interstates didn't take that long to be completed, and they were 42,500 miles compared to 52 miles for a northern loop around Birmingham.

It's a combination of rugged terrain and lack of funding compared to before 1991 which is why they think it won't be until 2054 when it's done. Then you have to ask whether it's even worth the cost.

You could take the $350 million and widen a 20 to 30 mile or so stretch of I-65, which is badly needed.

[I-55]

I'm still scratching my head as to why the stretch started near Pinson still isn't done.

[sprjus4]

Per the article, scheduled completion of the beltway is 2054, wow.

It started back in 2014, so the project's going to take 40 years. Forty, damn, YEARS!!!

By comparison, even the pre-1991 Interstates didn't take that long to be completed, and they were 42,500 miles compared to 52 miles for a northern loop around Birmingham.

It's a combination of rugged terrain and lack of funding compared to before 1991 which is why they think it won't be until 2054 when it's done. Then you have to ask whether it's even worth the cost.

You could take the $350 million and widen a 20 to 30 mile or so stretch of I-65, which is badly needed.

I believe the $350 million allocation is dedicated to the ADHS program exclusively, so you wouldn't be able to transfer to such project.

But if you could, the biggest need would probably be the I-10 Mobile River Bayway project.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Per the article, scheduled completion of the beltway is 2054, wow.

It started back in 2014, so the project's going to take 40 years. Forty, damn, YEARS!!!

That'll be slightly longer than I-476 in suburban Philly (37 years), but not as long as I-670 through Columbus (48 years)

[seicer]

Well, I-64 in West Virginia was built between 1960 and 1988 - which is 48 years, too.

Hilariously off on my numbers 

[Henry]

Well, I-64 in West Virginia was built between 1960 and 1988 - which is 48 years, too.

You misspoke a little; it only took 28 years for that to be completed.

[sparker]

Well, I-64 in West Virginia was built between 1960 and 1988 - which is 48 years, too.

You misspoke a little; it only took 28 years for that to be completed.

Hey, we Californians aren't slouches in that department, either.  The first section of I-5 (built after the Interstate legislation) opened in 1957; the last segment to be completed in the state wasn't until 1992.  35 years -- it would have likely been longer if the DOH hadn't prioritized getting the urban sections done as soon as possible, avoiding -- at least in greater L.A. and San Diego -- the controversies that doomed Interstate freeways elsewhere (this pertains to essentially all Interstate mileage in current D7/8/11/12). 

[Plutonic Panda]

A couple of articles about this project:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/construction-resumes-on-northern-beltline/65837

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/supporters-of-birminghams-northern-beltline-project-urging-aldot-to-build-its-next-phase/65773

[RoadWarrior56]

It will take longer to construct the northern beltline than it took to construct the original entire US Interstate Highway System.  That signifies how long it takes to construct anything related to infrastructure anymore.  In any case, I likely won't be around to see its completion in 2054, as I would be age 98.

[vdeane]

It will take longer to construct the northern beltline than it took to construct the original entire US Interstate Highway System.  That signifies how long it takes to construct anything related to infrastructure anymore.  In any case, I likely won't be around to see its completion in 2054, as I would be age 98.

Honestly, at the rate it's going, it's hard to tell whether 2054 is the entire route or just the portion that's currently being worked on.

[Henry]

It will take longer to construct the northern beltline than it took to construct the original entire US Interstate Highway System.  That signifies how long it takes to construct anything related to infrastructure anymore.  In any case, I likely won't be around to see its completion in 2054, as I would be age 98.

Honestly, at the rate it's going, it's hard to tell whether 2054 is the entire route or just the portion that's currently being worked on.

If you read a little bit more carefully, you'd see the following snippet:

"Alabama's Congressional delegation secured $489 million over the next five years, which will go toward constructing a four-lane, 10-mi. segment of the Northern Beltline that will connect U.S. Highway 31 near Gardendale to State Route 75 near Pinson. Construction of this 10-mi. segment is expected to be completed in 2028. Construction of the portion of the beltline that connects State Route 79 to State Route 75 is expected to be completed in 2026. The entire 52 mi. is scheduled to be finished by 2054."

So 2054 is referring to the whole thing, including I-222, which will act as a connector between the Beltline and I-22. Meanwhile, we could be driving 10 miles of it in four years. (And not that you were wondering, but I would turn 84 in 2054!)

[davewiecking]

https://www.al.com/news/2025/05/next-step-in-birminghams-long-planned-major-interstate-project-nears-completion.html

The Goog decided I wanted to know this; I decided you do also...

[Plutonic Panda]

A developer wanting to build a data center has hereby been warned by ALDOT they are conflicting with northern Beltline plans:

https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/aldot-warns-data-center-developers-of-site-conflict-with-beltline-plans-alabama-department-of-transportation-bessemer-project-jefferson-county-road-follow-up

[davewiecking]

A developer wanting to build a data center has hereby been warned by ALDOT they are conflicting with northern Beltline plans:

https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/aldot-warns-data-center-developers-of-site-conflict-with-beltline-plans-alabama-department-of-transportation-bessemer-project-jefferson-county-road-follow-up

Plans, shmams. Who OWNS the land in question?

[ElishaGOtis]

A developer wanting to build a data center has hereby been warned by ALDOT they are conflicting with northern Beltline plans:

https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/aldot-warns-data-center-developers-of-site-conflict-with-beltline-plans-alabama-department-of-transportation-bessemer-project-jefferson-county-road-follow-up

Plans, shmams. Who OWNS the land in question?

Any industrial developer would know a) a freeway connection is crazy good for business (both logistics and customers), b) if they own the land and ALDOT has to buy it, they can make big bucks off the land sale OR ALTERNATIVELY c) if they plan for the freeway or give ROW for the freeway, then local communities could be more likely to support such plans for both (this has backfired in Florida).

[davewiecking]

A developer wanting to build a data center has hereby been warned by ALDOT they are conflicting with northern Beltline plans:

https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/aldot-warns-data-center-developers-of-site-conflict-with-beltline-plans-alabama-department-of-transportation-bessemer-project-jefferson-county-road-follow-up

Plans, shmams. Who OWNS the land in question?

Any industrial developer would know a) a freeway connection is crazy good for business (both logistics and customers), b) if they own the land and ALDOT has to buy it, they can make big bucks off the land sale OR ALTERNATIVELY c) if they plan for the freeway or give ROW for the freeway, then local communities could be more likely to support such plans for both (this has backfired in Florida).

I'm not so sure this is the type of business that needs freeway access. The zeros and ones that are going in and out of that business do not travel on interstate highways.

[freebrickproductions]

A developer wanting to build a data center has hereby been warned by ALDOT they are conflicting with northern Beltline plans:

https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/aldot-warns-data-center-developers-of-site-conflict-with-beltline-plans-alabama-department-of-transportation-bessemer-project-jefferson-county-road-follow-up

Plans, shmams. Who OWNS the land in question?

Any industrial developer would know a) a freeway connection is crazy good for business (both logistics and customers), b) if they own the land and ALDOT has to buy it, they can make big bucks off the land sale OR ALTERNATIVELY c) if they plan for the freeway or give ROW for the freeway, then local communities could be more likely to support such plans for both (this has backfired in Florida).

I'm not so sure this is the type of business that needs freeway access. The zeros and ones that are going in and out of that business do not travel on interstate highways.

The employees who help maintain the data center will though.

[froggie]

I'm not so sure this is the type of business that needs freeway access. The zeros and ones that are going in and out of that business do not travel on interstate highways.

The employees who help maintain the data center will though.

Compared to other large commercial or industrial buildings, data centers do not require a whole lot of employees.

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe Interstate 459 should have been planned and constructed as a beltway in the first place. Then we wouldn't be having the conversation in this thread.