Rep. Dale Strong announced this week that about $18.5 million will be coming to the northern part of the state. It’s part of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package that was signed into law last week. WAFF TV reports projects include completion of Huntsville’s Northern Bypass which includes a 10-mile limited access highway between Interstate 565 and Memorial Parkway, and adding lanes on U.S. Highway 72 from County Line Road to Providence Main Road. Additional funds will go to local law enforcement and road improvements in Limestone and Morgan counties.
Five road projects in Alabama are getting $97.3 million in federal transportation grants. The money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The grant program was targeted toward communities affected by underinvestment and pollution. AL.com reports that in north Alabama, $18.4 million will go to the Hike-Bike Way on the Singing River Trail in Decatur which will reconnect the trail to the downtown riverfront. And $27.3 million will be spent on a cable-suspended pedestrian bridge and two other pedestrian bridges in Huntsville, connecting low-income neighborhoods near Memorial Parkway to downtown businesses.
The City of Huntsville approved a design contract to expand Big Spring Park this week. A spokesperson for the city tells WAFF TV the current Administration Building on Fountain Circle will be demolished following the transition to the new City Hall and the building site will be added to the park.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License Division announced Monday that its driver’s license office on Church Street will be relocated to 7262 Governors West in Huntsville. Officials say the new location will bring a better experience with a bigger facility to serve customers. WAFF TV reports the Church Street location will remain open until March 27 at 3 p.m. and then will reopen at its new location on Governors West on April 1.
Madison County is the fastest growing in the state. That’s according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. AL.com reports Madison County now has 412,600 residents, adding about 25 people a day. Only Jefferson County, home to Birmingham, is more populous than Madison County. Limestone County is growing at the fastest rate in Alabama. Its population is up more than 10 percent since the 2020 Census.
You can expect traffic delays in downtown Huntsville Saturday for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Road closures will begin as early as 10 a.m. The parade starts at Lot K on the corner of Woodson Street and Holmes Avenue and proceeds through downtown Huntsville. Other streets impacted include Jefferson Street from Monroe Street to South Side Square, Washington Street from Southside Square to Monroe Street and Meridian Street from Monroe Street to Cleveland Avenue. The Huntsville Police Department asks that you use caution due to heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic. All roads will reopen by noon.