Photo by Erica Techo.
Residents look at a display of the proposed Interstate 65/Lakeshore Parkway intersection as a Volkert representative, center, describes the plan’s details.
Homewood residents were invited to Second Presbyterian Church on Aug. 18 for a public involvement meeting on potential Interstate 65/Lakeshore Parkway intersection modifications.
The proposed change would be a diverging diamond interchange, meaning there is a brief part of the road where lanes cross over and drive on the opposite side of the road. This type of intersection is intended to help reduce congestion and delays, said Alabama Department of Transportation region engineer DeJarvis Leonard.
“By doing a diverging diamond, we allow the ramps to free-flow,” Leonard said.
Changes which would take place in this project include:
► Removal of the existing southbound ramp for I-65 and building a new ramp
► A single left turn lane from eastbound Lakeshore Parkway to Wildwood Parkway
► Right-in and right-out access at the shopping center with Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club
► A westbound Lakeshore Parkway auxiliary lane between I-65 southbound ramps and Wildwood Parkway
► An eastbound Lakeshore Parkway auxiliary lane between Wildwood Parkway and I-65 southbound ramps
Plans also include a sidewalk that travels through the middle of the interchange, with plans to connect to the Shades Creek Greenway.
Leonard said he has heard positive reactions to the interchange, especially from individuals who have seen these interchanges at work in neighboring states, and that if plans and funding are approved for the project, it would be the first diverging diamond interchange in the state.
“Homewood was innovative about wanting to introduce this design,” he said.
Greg Cobb of the Homewood department of engineering, planning and zoning said he believes it will make the intersection more efficient. “It’s going to be great,” he said. “They can’t build it fast enough to suit me.”
Most of the work would be done in the current right-of-way, excepting a small triangle of right-of-way — located off of the Sam’s Club parking lot — that will need to be purchased. This, however, will not affect any parking at the Sam’s Club, and the project will not impact local residential areas.
Some residents attended the public involvement meeting with concerns that their homes or their land would be affected. Lakeview Estates resident Jennifer Caldwell said she attended because she thought it might encroach more on the residential areas. After seeing the plans, however, she said those concerns were alleviated.
“It’s not going to encroach like I thought,” she said.
The new interchange, Caldwell said, seemed like it would be good for traffic flow and make the intersection easier to navigate. A few concerns she had, however, included the potential danger of the sidewalk. While a sidewalk would make a good addition, she said she would prefer to see a crossover where the sidewalk intersects with the interstate ramps, rather than the current plan where pedestrians walk across a lane of traffic.
Caldwell also said she hopes to see a plan for the open area which will be left when the southbound ramp is removed. Landscaping in the area would be a good improvement, she said. This was the first public involvement meeting regarding the project, and Leonard said final plans should be available in a year. At this time, however, funding wouldn’t be available until 2020.
“If they’re going to do it, I’d rather them go ahead and do it,” Caldwell said, noting that 2020 seemed a long way off.
Once construction starts, the project would take between nine months and a year to complete.
Residents are encouraged to submit their comments or concerns about the project by Wednesday, Sept. 7. Comment forms can be submitted to:
Mr. DeJarvis Leonard, Region Engineer
East Central Region – Birmingham Area
P.O. Box 2745
Birmingham, Alabama 35202-2745
ATTN: Mrs. Sandra F.P. Bonner
