Bridge replacement project inching towards completion

By Staff
Clif Knight/Hartselle Enquirer
A 30 percent review of design and engineering plans for the Hammitt Street railroad bridge replacement project will take place Jan. 11 at the Division I office of the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) in Guntersville, according to Jeff Johnson, Hartselle's director of development and project coordinator.
He said he will be joined at the meeting by representatives of Civic Solutions, project engineer, and representatives of ALDOT.
Johnson said the relocation of utilities (water, gas, electric, telephone and TV cable) will follow engineering.
Johnson said an earlier concern about how the proposed new roadway could negatively affect Hartselle Utilities' materials and equipment storage yard is being addressed. He pointed out that Joe Wheeler Co-Op has agreed to lease to HU a small tract of land adjoining the storage yard and fronting on Railroad Street. This will replace the loss of HU land to the roadway and enable the utility to retain the Railroad Street entrance to its storage yard.
ALDOT approved 100 percent funding of the $1.5 million project in 2002. The construction phase was targeted for 2005.
The project consists of the relocation and replacement of the old wooden railroad bridge and the construction of a two-lane roadway, linking Longhorn Pass with Georgia Street. This is the first of four phases in a proposed downtown bypass, linking Highway 31 with Interstate I-65.