Council moves to address traffic issues around I-65 Lakeshore exit

Within the next two years, the landscape around I-65 on Lakeshore Drive could look drastically different.

During its regular meeting on Jan. 27, the Homewood City Council approved for Mayor Scott McBrayer to enter into an engineering contract with Volkert, Inc. The agreement would seek to address congestion issues on Lakeshore Drive between Greensprings Highway and the Wildwood retail district by implementing inventive methods of traffic flow.

According to Homewood Chief of Staff J.J. Bischoff, traffic attempting to turn left into Sam's Club, Walmart and other businesses on the south side of Lakeshore frequently cause traffic to slow, specifically traffic coming from I-65 and attempting to merge into turn lanes. He said the Council has been aware of the issue since 2000, but consistent development through the corridor has created a need to address the issue sooner rather than later.

Bischoff said Homewood's initial idea to ease congestion was to line up the I-65 Southbound off ramp to Lakeshore with the entrance to Wildwood.

"ALDOT shot that down," Bischoff said, noting the Alabama Department of Transportation was bound by the Federal Highway Administration's use of public funds to acquire rights-of-way when Walmart and Sam's Club were constructed.

So, in 2013, the Council requested proposals for solutions to the congestion problem. McBrayer said that of those received, Volkert's was both the most appealing to him and least expensive. The Council approved of his selection.

McBrayer said part of Volkert's proposal involves reconfiguring the interstate exit and said their timeline for completing the project would be approximately 18 months.

"I know that is an exciting project out there, and we're all looking forward to what develops," Councilman Peter Wright said.

Details of Volkert's proposal were not immediately available.