Sand Mountain Reporter

Plans to expand Alabama 75 from Albertville to the Blount County line are “moving forward but at a slow and steady pace,” said a state transportation official.

“We’re still trying to get all of our corridor study work finalized,” said Johnny Harris, of the Alabama Department of Transportation in Guntersville. “There are too many variables to pinpoint any kind of time frame.”

Officials are still trying to determine whether to expand the existing highway, which would include five lanes through Douglas, or bypass the town with a divided four-lane featuring crossovers.

“We’ve not completed all the environmental studies to determine which is the most feasible alternate,” Harris said. “We’re also working with the airport to determine what their expansion plans are and if it’s going to affect the alignment any.”

All the required information must be reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration before any work can start.

Typically, construction begins on major projects three to five years after the corridor study is complete to allow time for planning and property acquisition.

Officials intend to divide the corridor into two major projects, Harris said. The first phase is expected to include the portion of 75 that passes by Albertville Elementary School and Albertville Regional Airport. The second project would extend past Douglas.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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