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I-59 repaving to last two years
Published October 29, 2009
If you're going to be taking a trip to Gadsden or Birmingham in the next two years, you may want to consider an alternative to Interstate 59.
The 12 1/2 miles between the DeKalb County line and the Attalla exit are slated to be repaved. Soon, the entire northbound side will be closed and all traffic will travel the southbound lanes.
The north lanes are expected to take eight-nine months, then the southbound lanes will be redone.
Along with reconcreting, the curve through the cut on the northbound side will have banking added to it.
"There's supposed to be anywhere from 8-15 inches of banking added under that lane," DeKalb County EMA member Christy Hardin told the county commission at Tuesday's meeting. "Hopefully that will correct the long-term problem that's been in that curve."
County EMA personnel have been meeting with Etowah County officials, to make sure that responders can get to a wreck during the construction period.
While the construction is going, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 miles per hour.
At some point, the Noccalula Falls exit will be closed, as the overpass is going to be raised.
Hardin also noted that a shorter term project is ongoing in Collinsville, at the intersection of highways 11 and 68.
• The council also heard of progress on Sylvania Gap Road, where the excavation process is almost complete.
"As of yesterday (Monday), we have taken out 728 loads," said road department manager Tom Broyles. "We thought we were about through when we saw another place leaking. Now I figure we've got about another half day to go."
Tuesday's rainy weather put the project on hold again but Broyles is hoping the excavation can be finished by this weekend.
"Once we get that done, we'll put in a drain system and start filling in with crushed limestone," he said.
• Hardin announced that DeKalb County now has H1N1 vaccines but there is a statewide shortage.
She said that the pecking order is pregnant women, then children aged six months to four years, then the parents of said children, followed by any child with health problems (up to 18 years old), then the elderly.
• The council voted to accept a $400,000 water grant for Lookout Mountain, just south of Collinsville.
"That's the order they want them taken in," Hardin said. "But no one will be turned away."
• James Coker of Collinsville was appointed to another four-year term on the Economic Development Agency.
• Three damage claims were presented for payment.
Two were for broken windows (one in a home and one in a car) and one was for a telephone pole that was broken when a dumptruck hit it.
• The county's IT coordinator's job is to be posted, as the current one has turned in his notice.
• Wayne O'Shields was approved to be hired as a corrections officer.
• Joshua Lee was promoted from part-time sheriff's office dispatcher to full-time and at her request, Cindy Scoggins went from full-time to part-time.
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