January 2025 | Volume 15 | Issue 8
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The entrance ramp onto U.S. 280 from Lakeshore Drive crowds with rush hour traffic as commuters head home on Nov. 18. The construction will add a lane from Lakeshore to I-459 by The Summit. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
US 280 expansion set to begin; Homewood beginning point for improvements By TAYLOR BRIGHT U.S. 280 congestion may be getting a little worse in the next couple of years — and then, officials hope, a whole lot better. The state is set to begin construction on the widening of 280 as soon as February, the Alabama Department of Transportation said. The project is expected to last two years. The project is designed to add to the capacity for cars traveling along the western end of the highway, which runs through Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. According to data from ALDOT, the busiest point of 280, near Overton Road, has an average of nearly 105,000 vehicles traveling that point daily. By comparison, only the interstates are more traveled in the metro area. Interstate 20/59 by the Tallapoosa Street exit has more than 150,000 vehicles driving on it daily. City Councilor Jennifer Andress, who represents Ward 5, near where work will be done, said she welcomes the improvements that will be made.
What to expect this year in Homewood By SARAH OWENS There are plenty of things to keep an eye out for in Homewood in 2025. Here are our top five things to be on the lookout for in the new year.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER
The city of Homewood posted a job opening for the
INSIDE
interim city manager position on the city’s website on Dec. 13. The person hired will serve in the role from March 2025 to March 2026. In September, Homewood
See LOOK AHEAD | page 22 Sponsors.............................4 City.......................................6
Schoolhouse.......................8 Business.............................10
See 280 EXPANSION | page 23 Real Estate........................14 Events.................................16
Sports.................................18 Community........................21 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Spotted Friends
All-South Metro
Salamander Festival returns to celebrate the native population of spotted salamanders.
Patriots and Cavaliers named to All-South Metro Football and Volleyball team lineups.
See page 17
See page 18-20
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