Hitch in new Governors work?

Friday, January 18, 2008

By KEITH CLINES

Times Staff Writer keith.clines@htimes.com

Big Cove Road could become a right turn only

The city's plans for the next phase of widening Governors Drive through the medical district were generally well-received by residents attending a public meeting Thursday night, but several people had concerns about changes on the east end of the project.

City Engineer Tom Cunningham briefed about 25 people Thursday night on the plans to widen Governors Drive from five lanes to seven lanes from just east of Gallatin Street to east of California Street.

The plans include eliminating part of Big Cove Road in front of Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children between Governors Drive and California Street, removing the traffic signal at Big Cove Road and California Street, and allowing motorists on Big Cove Road coming from the Blossomwood area to only turn right onto California Street.

Residents and other motorists in the Blossomwood and Big Cove Road area would have to go to Bassett Street, which is east of California Street, to get to Governors Drive.

Several people at the meeting said they were concerned about the plans not to allow left turns from Big Cove Road to California Street. They said Bassett Street would become congested, and traffic wanting to get to Governors Drive would back up on Bassett Street and Big Cove Road.

Cunningham said the city expects to install a traffic signal at Governors Drive and Bassett Street.

Gary Davis, who lives on Big Cove Road, said he was "extremely impressed" with how the city is generally addressing the traffic problems on Governors Drive, but added that the Big Cove Road access to Governors Drive is a concern.

"I think the right-turn-only will be a major issue," he said.

The proposed change could create congestion on Bassett Street and there is a blind spot looking up the mountain for motorists on Bassett who want to turn right onto Governors Drive, he said.

"They need a light there," he said.

Joe Kelly and Mike Tilley, who both have homes on Governors Drive east of Bassett Street, said they liked what they saw and heard at the meeting.

Kelly said the improved highway would help emergency vehicles reach Huntsville Hospital.

"Time and again, I see ambulances stuck in traffic," he said.

Cunningham said the city hopes to begin acquiring right of way for the project this summer and begin construction in mid or late 2009. Construction could be completed in late 2010, he said.

The estimated cost of phase two is $8 million to $9 million, he said.

Phase one from Monroe Street to east of Gallatin Street began about a year ago and is expected to be completed this summer.

Most of the widening in phase two will be on the north side, Cunningham said.

The wider road will require the city to buy and remove four buildings - Robins and Morton Group and Wilson Cleaners (both between Madison and Franklin streets), a Chevron convenience store on the northwest corner of Governors and California, and a house on the northeast corner of California and Big Cove Road.

The curve on Governors between Gallatin and Madison streets will be made less severe in the new road, Cunningham said. The new road will have wider lanes, underground utilities, sidewalks on both sides, new curbs and gutters, new traffic signals and improved drainage.

The work will expand the traffic lane width from nine feet to 11 feet. On each side of the road will be a two-foot-wide gutter, a three-foot-wide strip of grass and a six-foot-wide sidewalk.

The width of the road from curb to curb will be expanded from 45 feet to 80 feet, Cunningham said.

Cunningham said the most challenging part of the project will be raising the elevation on the north side of Governors in the California Street area with fill dirt to place the roads on the same elevation.



Hitch in new Governors work? Friday, January 18, 2008 By KEITH CLINES Times Staff Writer keith.clines@htimes.com Big Cove Road could become a right turn only The city's plans for the next phase of widening Governors Drive through the medical district were generally well-received by residents attending a public meeting Thursday night, but several people had concerns about changes on the east end of the project. City Engineer Tom Cunningham briefed about 25 people Thursday night on the plans to widen Governors Drive from five lanes to seven lanes from just east of Gallatin Street to east of California Street. The plans include eliminating part of Big Cove Road in front of Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children between Governors Drive and California Street, removing the traffic signal at Big Cove Road and California Street, and allowing motorists on Big Cove Road coming from the Blossomwood area to only turn right onto California Street. Residents and other motorists in the Blossomwood and Big Cove Road area would have to go to Bassett Street, which is east of California Street, to get to Governors Drive. Several people at the meeting said they were concerned about the plans not to allow left turns from Big Cove Road to California Street. They said Bassett Street would become congested, and traffic wanting to get to Governors Drive would back up on Bassett Street and Big Cove Road. Cunningham said the city expects to install a traffic signal at Governors Drive and Bassett Street. Gary Davis, who lives on Big Cove Road, said he was "extremely impressed" with how the city is generally addressing the traffic problems on Governors Drive, but added that the Big Cove Road access to Governors Drive is a concern. "I think the right-turn-only will be a major issue," he said. The proposed change could create congestion on Bassett Street and there is a blind spot looking up the mountain for motorists on Bassett who want to turn right onto Governors Drive, he said. "They need a light there," he said. Joe Kelly and Mike Tilley, who both have homes on Governors Drive east of Bassett Street, said they liked what they saw and heard at the meeting. Kelly said the improved highway would help emergency vehicles reach Huntsville Hospital. "Time and again, I see ambulances stuck in traffic," he said. Cunningham said the city hopes to begin acquiring right of way for the project this summer and begin construction in mid or late 2009. Construction could be completed in late 2010, he said. The estimated cost of phase two is $8 million to $9 million, he said. Phase one from Monroe Street to east of Gallatin Street began about a year ago and is expected to be completed this summer. Most of the widening in phase two will be on the north side, Cunningham said. The wider road will require the city to buy and remove four buildings - Robins and Morton Group and Wilson Cleaners (both between Madison and Franklin streets), a Chevron convenience store on the northwest corner of Governors and California, and a house on the northeast corner of California and Big Cove Road. The curve on Governors between Gallatin and Madison streets will be made less severe in the new road, Cunningham said. The new road will have wider lanes, underground utilities, sidewalks on both sides, new curbs and gutters, new traffic signals and improved drainage. The work will expand the traffic lane width from nine feet to 11 feet. On each side of the road will be a two-foot-wide gutter, a three-foot-wide strip of grass and a six-foot-wide sidewalk. The width of the road from curb to curb will be expanded from 45 feet to 80 feet, Cunningham said. Cunningham said the most challenging part of the project will be raising the elevation on the north side of Governors in the California Street area with fill dirt to place the roads on the same elevation. © 2008 The Huntsville Times © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.