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Vol. XXXI • No. 9
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Phase Two of $700M 59/20 Bridges Project Nears Finish By Lori Tobias CEG CORRESPONDENT
Phase two of the $700 million project to clean up traffic problems in downtown Birmingham is nearing completion as work on phase three continues to progress. The project, known as the 59/20 Bridges, includes widening roads, elevating bridges, constructing new interchange ramps and replacing bridges over portions of I-59/20 and I-65. Work on phase one was completed in the fall of 2016, with work on phase two set to be finished this summer. Now contractors have less than three years to finish work on phase three, scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. The massive undertaking is necessary to accommodate the highest rate of traffic flow in Alabama. “The bridges along I-59/20 and portions of I-65 through Birmingham’s Central Business District [CBD] were originally designed to accommodate 80,000 vehicles per day,” according to the Alabama Department of Transportation’s 5920bridge.com. Today, the traffic far surpasses that number with 160,000 vehicles traveling over I-59/20 and 130,000 on I65 per day, said DeJarvis Leonard, ALDOT’s regional engineer. “Over the past 40 years, as traffic has skyrocketed through the city of Birmingham, the junction of I-65 with I-59/20 has become labeled as ‘Malfunction Junction,’” said Leonard. Phase two, awarded to Granite Construction, involved the modification of the interchange at I-59/20 and I-65. The purpose is to separate on and off movement on the Interstate, which will be accomplished by removing several conflict points from the ramp configuration in place, Leonard said. “We have cranes and cranes and more cranes, including two see BRIDGES page 2
The massive undertaking is necessary to accommodate the highest rate of traffic flow in Alabama.
Google Begins Work on $600M Data Center in Bridgeport Crews recently broke ground on Google’s latest data center in Bridgeport, Ala. Officials expect the $600 million project to create up to 100 jobs in Jackson County, Area Development reported. Plans for the project were first formally announced in June 2015, Made in Alabama reported. When complete, the facility
will be the state’s first large-scale data center, and is expected to bring a new aspect to the area’s local economy, which is currently focused on manufacturing, Made in Alabama reported. “This is a big day for Bridgeport because it helps our city in many different ways,” said Mayor David “Bubba” Hughes.
“Having Google in our community will bring us great jobs and offer real opportunities for our young people. Google is a generous supporter of schools, and the company’s presence will help us recruit other high-tech companies. No doubt about it — this a game-changer for us.” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey
echoed Hughes’ sentiment, saying, “As one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative technology companies, Google’s products touch billions of people across the globe every single day. We’re proud that Alabama is playing an important role in Google’s future growth, and we look forward to seeing this data center operation
help power that growth … When Google was searching for its next location, I’m glad they found Alabama.” The center will take over 360 acres that sit adjacent to the Widows Creek coal-fired power plant, which was decommissioned by the Tennessee Valley see GOOGLE page 2