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January 7 2026
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Placing 100-ft. beams across the width of the highway must be done with great precision.
By Cindy Riley
Known for its rush hour congestion and high accident rates, Highway 280 is recognized as one of Alabama’s busiest non-interstate roadways. To ease the burden of motorists traveling the popular retail corridor, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is widening a section of the roadway from three to four lanes in each direction, increasing the overall capacity by 30 percent. “There are backups throughout a large portion of the day,” said DeJarvis Leonard, ALDOT east central region engineer. “The average daily traffic of U.S. 280 in this location is over 120,000. The widening of this route will largely help daily
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commuters but also will be beneficial for those traveling to and from Birmingham.” The $53 million undertaking begins in the city of Homewood at Hollywood Boulevard and ends at I-459 in the city of Birmingham. The distance is approximately 4 mi. “This section is extremely busy for daily commuters traveling to and from Birmingham, local traffic and also traffic from elsewhere passing through the city,” said Leonard. “Traffic has primarily been affected by nightly lane closures.” The contractor, APAC-Alabama Inc., has overseen similar projects in the area for decades. It was involved in the past two major widening efforts on U.S. 280 in the past 20 years in the same location. One of the highlights of this latest proj-
ect involves replacing the bridge on Pump House Road, which forced a major traffic shutdown in November. “Completely closing all lanes of U.S. 280 eastbound from Friday night until Sunday afternoon was very significant,” said Leonard. “ALDOT used multiple mechanisms to notify the public of the impending closure. “Signal timing was adjusted on alternate routes to aid in the flow of traffic,” he added. “The combined effort of all parties involved made the closure as minimal impact as possible, with very little queuing or congestion on nearby routes. The contractor was able to end the closure about 12 hours earlier than allowed.” see ALDOT page 6
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Crews Convert Alabama Masonic Temple Into Civic Center The iconic dome of the former Zamora Temple in Irondale, Ala., was removed Nov. 21, 2025, marking a major milestone in the city’s $19.96 million Civic Center renovation and signaling the official start of full construction on the long-awaited project. Located northeast of Birmingham, the dome sat atop the original Shriner’s Masonic hall since it opened in 1985. Over the decades, it also became a familiar landmark visible to motorists traveling along Interstate 459, the Trussville (Ala.) Tribune reported. The Moorish-inspired onion dome of the Zamora Temple was visible from the freeway between I-20 and the Grants Mill Road exit on I-459. Irondale municipal officials purchased the building and 105 acres around it in 2022 for $5 million, and while it hosted numerous Masonic lodge meetings and community events, it also was the site of many other activities — everything from Feline Fanciers cat shows, the Tragic City Rollers roller derby team and various food festivals. City leaders said the aging facility required a comprehensive overhaul to meet modern needs, but will not be demolished entirely, Al.com reported. The removal of the dome comes just months after the city’s official groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 21. The event drew city leaders, residents and project partners, with Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. calling the undertaking a “generational project” that fulfills community priorities outlined in the city’s comprehensive plan, entitled “Blueprint Irondale.” “This is what our citizens asked for,” Stewart said. “They
wanted a place to gather, meet and enjoy recreation, and today we’re seeing that vision move forward in a real and visible way.” The renovation project was awarded to Shelby General Contractors, with Williams Blackstock Architects designing the facility and Kemp Management Solutions overseeing construction. Each firm is located in Birmingham. The timeline for completion is estimated at 18 to 24 months, the Tribune noted, though Stewart said that schedule could shift as crews uncover conditions inside the nearly 40-year-old structure. “We’re not tearing the building down,” he said. “Once you start taking down walls and pulling up floors, you never know what you’ll find. But we’re confident our citizens will be enjoying this facility within two years.” The renovation project is funded through general obligation bonds issued in 2024. Irondale raised roughly $60 million to support multiple citywide initiatives now under way. As the dome comes down, crews are preparing the building for significant upgrades, according to the Tribune. When completed, the Irondale Civic Center will include a 1,500-seat conference hall, community meeting rooms, a fitness center, upgraded parking and an outdoor plaza. Family amenities will feature a splash pad, playground, pavilion and walking trails, while
its outdoor pickleball courts and amphitheater are likely to become major attractions. For Stewart, the dome removal symbolizes a turning point. “In the history of Irondale, we’ve never had a place we could truly call home,” he said. “Seeing this moment — seeing our city rise into its next chapter — fills me with pride. As the dome comes down, Irondale rises.” City of Irondale photo
The iconic dome of the former Zamora Temple in Irondale, Ala., was removed Nov. 21, 2025, marking a major milestone in the city’s $19.96 million Civic Center renovation and signaling the official start of full construction on the longawaited project.
Construction Starts On Alabama School of Healthcare Campus Marking a new era in Alabama healthcare, ground was broken in mid-October 2025 for the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS) in Demopolis. State and national leaders joined educators, healthcare professionals, philanthropists and local officials in a ceremony that many regard as a milestone for education and workforce development in rural west Alabama, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Kay Ivey. “This school represents more than bricks and mortar,” said Ivey, who boosted the school in the Legislature and its location in the state’s Black Belt during her remarks at the groundbreaking. “It is a fresh potential for our young people and a milestone in addressing healthcare needs here in Alabama.” The event was held on the 10-acre campus site at 908 S. Cedar Ave. in Demopolis, next to Whitfield Regional Hospital. Among the dignitaries in attendance was Kate Herman, CEO of New York-based Bloomberg Philanthropies, which has committed $26.4 million to ASHS as part of its $250 million initiative to launch healthcarefocused career and technical education (CTE) high schools in 10 communities across the country.
The philanthropic foundation’s goal is to help alleviate the shortage of trained healthcare professionals while providing career opportunities for underserved youth. ASHS is the only one of the 10 that is a “ground-up” project and one of just two aimed at boosting rural medicine, with the remainder of the schools going into existing facilities in more urban settings, reported Alabama Political Reporter. “We are proud to support the bold vision of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences,” said Howard Wolfson, education lead of Bloomberg Philanthropies. “By giving students access to high quality instruction and clear career pathways, ASHS will help ensure that the next generation of healthcare professionals is well equipped to meet the demands of communities across the state and the country.” Another national leader — one with Alabama roots — entered the picture in absentia in a surprise announcement, the news release noted. Ivey said Demopolis native Dr. Selwyn Vickers has agreed to serve as special advisor of ASHS and its supporting foundation. Since 2022, Vickers has served as president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, recognized as
one of the world’s leading cancer centers. “As we take this step forward, we’re building opportunity, both for young people and for the future of healthcare in Alabama,” said ASHS President Dr. Jimmy Martin. “Our mission is to help students discover purpose in service, connect learning to real careers and strengthen the health of every community in our state.” Birmingham Contractor Building SchoolÊs $62M First Phase The residential campus design of the new health science school was done, in part, to draw students from across Alabama. Students will live and learn together in an environment that emphasizes hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications and direct access to both higher education and immediate healthcare careers. With that in mind, Whitfield Regional Hospital is set to be ASHS’s primary medical partner. The new campus will be the fourth free, state-supported residential specialty school under the state’s Department of Education, joining the School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham and the Alabama School of Math and Science in
Mobile. ASHS will welcome its inaugural firstyear class in August 2026 at a temporary campus at the University of West Alabama in Livingston while construction advances in Demopolis toward an opening exactly one year later. Brasfield & Gorrie in Birmingham is the general contractor and construction manager for the new school and will work from designs provided by Caldwell Architects, located in Pensacola, Fla. Alabama Political Reporter noted that the foundation board approved a $62 million agreement with the builder for the first phase of the campus, which will include an academic structure, residential hall, dining facilities, 400-seat auditorium and a recreational building. The campus will be located on land donated and prepared for construction by the city of Demopolis. According to the governor’s office, decisions on healthcare focus areas and curricula are expected soon, paving the way for faculty and staff recruitment. Yellowhammer News noted that applications to attend ASHS have now opened, and school officials have launched information sessions for students and parents across the state.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • January 7, 2026 • Page 3
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Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • January 7, 2026 • Page 5
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ALDOT’s U.S. 280 Project Rebuilds Bridge in Two Phases ALDOT from page 1
The new bridge is being built in two phases to allow traffic flow across the structure through most of the project. The first phase requires partial construction of the abutments on either side of U.S. 280. “One of the main challenges with building this new bridge is that it’s over live traffic for much of the construction, and there are residences nearby,” said Leonard. Understandably, placing 100-ft. beams across the width of the highway must be done with great precision. “The contractor had taken the utmost care in installing the sections of girders on either side of the span. Through much planning and preparation, the setting of the 100-foot beam in the middle went as planned, with very little difficulty lining it up with the sections already in place.” Workers used a Demag AC 220-5 crane with 154,800-lb. counterweight and 82.3-ft. boom to set the outer sections. Also used was a Liebherr LTM 1400-7.1 crane with 220, 500-lb. counterweight and 118-ft. boom to set the center section. According to Leonard, setting the initial girders for the new bridge is a milestone. “Setting the girders is the first major step to complete construction of the Pump House Road Bridge and demolition of the existing structure that will allow for the ultimate widening of U.S. 280 under the bridge.” Leonard added that, overall, motorists have adjusted to the ongoing work. “ALDOT has received very few complaints concerning disruptions to traffic, since most of the lane closures have been during off-peak hours. The main questions from the traveling public concern the overall schedule and timeline of the project.” With crews working overnight, however, there have reportedly been objections to the constant pounding from jackhammers when homeowners are trying to sleep. ALDOT has been coordinating with APAC-Alabama to minimize the impact of after-hours construction. Leonard said the main concern on the project is dealing with unexpected utility conflicts. The large amount of traffic on the highway also is an issue for crews. Fortunately, most of the widening to the outside of U.S. 280 between Lakeshore Parkway and I-459 has
been completed. Currently, workers are continuing excavation, grading, drainage and paving work to the outside. Key tasks remaining include widening to the inside, bridge construction, concrete repair and paving throughout the project limits. “Once we finish construction on the first half of the Pump House Road Bridge in early 2026, we will begin the process of demolishing the old bridge,” said Leonard. “After that demo is complete, the contractor will begin installing the final two of five girders, which will offer an additional middle turn lane and a sidewalk.” In addition to paving and excavation equipment, crews are using asphalt, concrete, aggregate, pipe and steel to complete the project, which has called for approximately 20,000
cu. yds. of unclassified excavation and 24,000 cu. yds. of borrow. Although a great deal of construction remains, Leonard said it’s rewarding to work on a project that will alleviate stress for countless 280 motorists. “It means reduced congestion and delay, as well as improved traffic flow. By boosting the capacity of the heavily travelled U.S. 280 corridor from three lanes to four in both directions, we are proud knowing that our planning and the work of our contractors will help reduce the time commuters sit in traffic, while increasing the time they can spend with their families.” Construction should be completed by spring 2027. CEG
McInnis Construction LLC photo
ALDOT has received very few complaints concerning disruptions to traffic, since most of the lane closures have been during off-peak hours.
Jon Paepcke/ALDOT photo
Jon Paepcke/ALDOT photo
Jon Paepcke/ALDOT photo
Key tasks remaining include widening to the inside, bridge construction, concrete repair and paving throughout the project limits.
The new bridge is being built in two phases to allow traffic flow across the structure through most of the project.
The $53 million undertaking begins in the city of Homewood at Hollywood Boulevard and ends at I-459 in the city of Birmingham.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • January 7, 2026 • Page 7
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