Crews in Madison County, Alabama, are in the final stretch of a project that will add additional lanes on U.S.-231/U.S.-431/North Memorial Parkway from south of the intersection of Mastin Lake Road to the intersection of Winchester Road in Huntsville. The $34 million effort includes construction of a mainline overpass and access roads.
“Memorial Parkway carries about 40,000 vehicles a day near Mastin Lake Road,” Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) north region communications coordinator, Seth Burkett told Construction Equipment Guide. “The city street is busy, particularly on its western leg, which carries about 18,000 vehicles daily.
“U.S./231/U.S.-431 is a major route for commuters from communities such as Meridianville, Hazel Green and Fayetteville, Tenn. Traffic is generated by several major retailers, as well as a few restaurants and other businesses near the intersection.”
Burkett said while the project will increase the number of lanes on U.S.-231/U.S.-431/North Memorial Parkway from four/five to eight lanes (four-lane mainline with a pair of one-way, two-lane frontage roads), it's more about creating a grade separation to move traffic more efficiently.
ALDOT photo
“The mainline overpass at the intersection with Mastin Lake Road will eliminate delays for northbound and southbound through-traffic, which are the primary movements. Separating most of the through-traffic from the intersection will greatly improve the functionality of the intersection for the remaining movements.”
The project will address vehicles merging and diverging close to a busy, signalized intersection.
“Prior to the project, the Memorial Parkway expressway and frontage roads ended/began about 600 feet south of Mastin Lake Road, with one lane dropping from the northbound service road and the other merging with the mainline as it approached the intersection,” said Burkett. “This third northbound lane carried through the intersection to Stallworth Road at Alabama A&M University.”
During construction, temporary through-lane closures have caused a number of traffic delays. There also were periods when longer term closures of some turn lanes or auxiliary lanes were necessary, prompting some drivers to take alternate routes.
ALDOT photo
Two main operations were conducted under nighttime lane closures, as they could have severely impacted traffic otherwise. This included paving on Mastin Lake Road to match the grade with the new service roads and setting bridge girders for the new overpass. The work forced traffic stoppages while cranes carefully lifted the large prestressed concrete beams into place.
According to Burkett, contractor Rogers Group has kept the project moving along at a steady pace.
“Rogers Group Inc. handles many state road projects in North Alabama. ALDOT has worked with them extensively, and we have a good working relationship. Also, RGI's bridge subcontractor on this project, Miller & Miller, is another that has constructed many projects for us.
“Rogers Group expanded to become one of the major contractors in the Huntsville area with the acquisition of Huntsville-based Reed Contracting several years ago. Notably, Reed and Miller & Miller partnered on the last Memorial Parkway overpass construction project in Huntsville, with Reed constructing the roads and Miller & Miller constructing the bridges. That project was on South Memorial Parkway and included a bridge on Martin Road over the parkway and parkway mainline overpasses at Byrd Spring Road and Logan Drive/Lily Flagg Road.”
Construction has been going well, with the overpass bridge recently completed. Current work includes installing foundations for roadway lighting and completing gaps left for the foundations in the walls and mainline asphalt.
Future tasks include final paving, installing roadway lighting, signs and striping. Due to its location, construction of an on-ramp from the northbound service road will take place after the mainline is opened to traffic.
The project includes mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls that carry the mainline. They consist of layers of concrete panels, reinforcing elements and compacted fill. There also are poured-in-place concrete retaining walls separating the frontage roads from local access roads, due to grade differences, and providing safety for residential areas.
ALDOT photo
Among the construction milestones was the opening to traffic of the frontage roads in late 2024, which marked roughly the midway point of the project, when the focus of work shifted to the mainline and overpass. Other highlights include the beginning of paving on the mainline and completion of the bridge.
Burkett explained the biggest challenges for crews involved existing utility conflicts, as well as the need to manage the large volume of daily traffic through the project.
Approximately 56,000 cu. yds. of unclassified excavation have been moved during construction, along with 70,000 cu. yds. of borrow. Demolition called for removing the previous lanes along the parkway to facilitate the new bridge, along with multiple side accesses to the parkway.
ALDOT photo
Heavy machinery on site has included dozers, trackhoes, cranes and paving equipment. Dirt, rock, asphalt, concrete and steel are among the materials required to carry out the work.
According to Burkett, Alabama's changing weather patterns haven't always cooperated during construction.
“The unpredictable rain showers sometimes slowed the placement of soil. Also, cold winters have pushed concrete placement to times when adequate temperature was achieved.”
ALDOT anticipates completion of the project by the end of the year. For Burkett, it's rewarding to watch the work winding down.
“It's great to see everything coming together. We look forward to opening the new mainline and overpass to traffic. Although there will be a fair amount of work remaining at that point, I suspect that motorists driving over that intersection for the first time will experience a sense of fulfillment.”
