Published: Thursday, July 15, 2010

Road work begins at busy intersection; expect delays

Staff Reports, News Desk
Madison Weekly
Madison, Alabama’s Hometown Newspaper

The City of Madison is about to give the intersection at Wall Triana Blvd. & Highway 72 a face lift. On Tuesday motorists in Madison started seeing construction zone signs and workers beginning the process of expanding that intersection as well as the travel lanes on Wall Triana from Gooch Lane up to North City Limits.

Drivers who use the intersection regularly say the traffic here is terrible especially in the afternoon.

"It's bad, it ain't good. It takes about ten minutes everyday," said April James of Harvest.

"Trying to catch the light, some people have to sit here anywhere from two to four lights just trying to make a turn," said Samantha Bagwell of Huntsville.

Will Irvin of Madison believes getting into and out of businesses in this area is already tricky.

"If you try to make a left hand turn out of Star Market over here it can be definitely fun, especially around five o'clock," laughed Irvin.

The project will expand the left turn lane on 72 East to head South on Wall Triana to two lanes. It will also have two left turn lanes heading South on Wall Triana to turn East onto Highway 72.

One motorist says this project reminds him of another one not far away.

"They are expanding Balch Road down there and that's the road I live off of and it's heck every day I try to get out of the neighborhood. So I know when they start on this intersection it's going to be the same thing, a lot of people are going to be upset but I guess it's for the good," said Sean Petree.

Sherry Goddard owns the Ms. Sherry's New To You Thrift Store located near the intersection and she is worried about the impact of the construction zone on her business.

"We'll probably go out of business, because Nance Road is closed on one side of us and then this road too, there will be no way of people getting to us," said Goddard.

Yet, most drivers recognize the traffic is going to get worse before it gets better.

"It's already very backed up and if they are going to be doing construction it's just going to make it worse," said Bagwell.

"There are a lot of people that live in Harvest now and travel back and forth here. It's going to help but it's not going to help while they are expanding it. So I'll probably just have to take Highway 53 next time," said James.

"Once it's completed yeah hopefully that will help the traffic," said Irvin.

The project is scheduled to be done by October 8, 2010.