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Vol. XXXI • No. 21
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
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Motorists Revel in Early Finish to Huntsville Highway By Eric Olson CEG CORRESPONDENT
When they first heard the news in late 2015, motorists in Huntsville, Ala., dreaded what was ahead for them. One of the city’s lifelines, U.S. Highway 231, known locally as the South Memorial Parkway, was on the verge of getting a $54 million upgrade. That was the good news, but in the process of renovating the highway, the construction project, while only 1.8 mi. long, was undoubtedly going to include snarled traffic delays through the area. Worst of all, in the minds of most commuters, it was planned as a four-year-long, two-phase operation. The first phase was set to be complete in December 2017, while the second phase was projected to be open to traffic in June 2019. The work stretched from U.S. 231’s intersection with Goff Road on the north end to Whitesburg Drive on the south. The Alabama DOT warned drivers well ahead of time to expect traffic slowdowns while construction was under way, as well as some lane closures during the times of day when traffic was expected to be off-peak.
A Volvo EW 180D wheel excavator and a Cat 815 compactor work on installing the MSE retaining walls alongside the parkway. In the background, at right, is a John Deere 310 backhoe.
With no other options, for the next two years, drivers needing to travel along Huntsville’s major north-south roadway accepted the consequences and looked forward to the day when the Parkway was completed. Not So Fast! So, imagine their surprise when ALDOT and its contractors finished and opened Phase 1 of the Parkway last August, about 3½ months ahead of schedule. If that was not enough astonishment for regular drivers through Huntsville, ALDOT then announced in January 2018 that Phase 2 was progressing so quickly that Phase 2 might be completed as soon as this summer. The state kept its word, as all lanes of the last portion of the new highway were opened on July 31, bringing the job to a close 11 months early. Reed is still performing some minor work on the road, but has almost miraculously been able to save motorists from any further headaches. So, how did all this happen, exactly? Diligence, Cooperation & Incentives Many road projects struggle to make their projected deadlines due to a variety of factors. This construction was not easy to complete, either, according to the prime contractor, Reed Contracting Services Inc. The company’s north Alabama office is in Huntsville and is known as Reed Alabama.
But, Reed Alabama was not alone in rehabbing the highway, as a vital part of the project involved Miller & Miller Inc., another well-respected Huntsville-based contractor renowned for its bridge and highway work. The two firms renovated the highway in a joint venture. They also communicated extremely well to get the job done and received quick responses from both ALDOT and the city of Huntsville when problems arose, undoubtedly a big reason the work finished early. A strict adherence to the project schedule also was important to the venture partners, considering the consequences for failing to complete by the specified completion date. The contract amount for liquidated damages was $30,000, charged for each day past the scheduled completion date, according to Reed Alabama. The overall contract will, in the end, be worth between $54 million and $60 million. “The team understood that it was essential that we concentrate our efforts on starting and finishing strong to make this project a success,” said Brad Payne, an executive and project manager at Reed Alabama. “To do that, we assembled the best possible project management team, along with onsite personnel.” A Limited Access Roadway Needed The impetus for the South Memorial Parkway project was see HIGHWAY page 6
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battles, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivy and Madison County Chairman Dale Strong were among those who turned out for the ribboncutting ceremony for the finished highway.