Birmingham, Alabama is moving forward with a cost sharing agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to improve interstate lighting. Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin recommended the measure and the City Council approved it this week.
This $3.5 million project includes the restoration and maintenance of the interstate lighting on I-59/20 from Tallapoosa Street to the I-59/20 route interchange. The city will invest $1.65 million and ALDOT will share the remaining cost.
“It is important that our city highways and roadways have proper lighting for safety’s sake, ease of navigation and also to display the beauty of all that makes Birmingham great,” Woodfin said. “This partnership means a better Birmingham for our residents and visitors.”
Other areas being updated by ALDOT are:
- I-20/59 at Arkadelphia Road
- I-20/59 at the Ensley 5 Points Interchanges
- I-65 at Green Springs Ave
- I-65 at University Blvd
Some of the needed repairs are restoring lighting due to theft of copper wiring.
“We are taking extra precautions to reduce the likelihood of vandalism,” said James Fowler, director of transportation. “While no system is foolproof, we are switching to aluminum wiring and are also rebuilding the system in a way that will make the wiring more difficult to remove and have virtually no salvage value.”
ALDOT has already begun work on the project.
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Source: City of Birmingham
