Recent numbers from the U.S. Census predict Huntsville could be the largest city in Alabama in just a few years. With all that growth comes a little bit of change.
With new developments every day, more businesses opening, and more people on the roads, Huntsville has to adapt to make room. And you might have seen some of these projects getting started already.
Huntsville’s roads are getting a makeover. Driving down most major streets you get a glimpse of orange cones just about everywhere. But, it’s all a part of the plan to eventually make transit a lot smoother.
We sat with District 5 Council Member Will Culver to talk about all that’s headed our way.
Will Culver says, “Research Boulevard– we’re six-laning that from Old Madison Pike to University Drive.” Culver tells us, adding an exit from Research Park directly to Midcity is on the agenda.
Will Culver tells us, our streets need to be wider. The project (aiming to do just that) underway at Zierdt Road, is anticipated to be completed soon. He tells our reporter, “We’re trying to get that ready for Trash Panda’s season. So, baseball is right around the corner, April 15.”
Other road-widening projects have started across the city.
Cecil Ashburn, with one lane open in each direction, will be widened to a 4-lane street. University Drive/ HWY 72 might see a major makeover with 6 lanes. Culver says, “From Providence all the way west to County Line Road.”
The city is in the process of making moves to widen several other roads.
Will Culver says, “We’re in the land acquisition phase, as we speak.”
And Huntsville has acquired a lot of new businesses lately- that’ll be calling our city home. Will Culver says, “Facebook, Google, the FBI Bomb School– just one of two in the world– is now located at Redstone Arsenal.”
And there’s even more to come… Construction on a new Marriott will be started soon. And some major additions to the Twickenham area coming our way. Will Culver tells us, “A restaurant row that will have apartments and lofts above it. In fact some 200 lofts and apartments with 150,000 square feet of retail.”
Council Member Culver also mentioned plans to create another entertainment district here in Huntsville. The city has plans to connect the popular Campus 805 and Stovehouse properties so locals can walk from one campus to the other safely.
City officials have also expressed a need for more hotels… With an aim to add at least 1,000 hotel rooms downtown to accommodate visitors.
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