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ALDOT’s $34M Memorial Parkway Expansion in Final Stretch
Crews in Madison County, Alabama, are in the final stretch of a project that will add additional lanes on U.S.-231/U.S.-431/North Memorial Parkway from south of the intersection of Mastin Lake Road to the intersection of Winchester Road in Huntsville. The $34 million effort includes construction of a mainline overpass and access roads. “Memorial Parkway carries about 40,000 vehicles a day near Mastin Lake Road,” Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) north region communications coordinator, Seth Burkett told Construction Equipment Guide. “The city street is busy, particularly on its western leg, which carries about 18,000 vehicles daily. “U.S./231/U.S.-431 is a major route for commuters from communities such as Meridianville, Hazel Green and Fayetteville, Tenn. Traffic is generated by several major retailers, as well as a few restaurants and other businesses near the intersection.” Burkett said while the project will increase the number of lanes on U.S.-231/U.S.-431/North Memorial Parkway from four/five to eight lanes (four-lane mainline with a pair of one-way, two-lane frontage roads), it’s more about creating a grade separation to move traffic more efficiently. “The mainline overpass at the intersection with Mastin Lake Road will eliminate delays for northbound and southbound through-traffic, which are the primary movements. Separating most of the through-traffic from the intersection will greatly improve the functionality of the intersection for the remaining movements.” The project will address vehicles merging and diverging close to a busy, signalized intersection.
Cindy Riley
CEG CORRESPONDENT
ALDOT photo
Construction has been going well, with the overpass bridge recently completed.
“Prior to the project, the Memorial Parkway expressway and frontage roads ended/began about 600 feet south of Mastin Lake Road, with one lane dropping from the northbound service road and the other merging with the mainline as it approached the intersection,” said Burkett. “This third northbound lane carried through the intersection to Stallworth Road at Alabama A&M University.” During construction, temporary through-lane closures have caused a number of traffic delays. There also were periods when longer term closures of some turn lanes or
auxiliary lanes were necessary, prompting some drivers to take alternate routes. Two main operations were conducted under nighttime lane closures, as they could have severely impacted traffic otherwise. This included paving on Mastin Lake Road to match the grade with the new service roads and setting bridge girders for the new overpass. The work forced traffic stoppages while cranes carefully lifted the large prestressed concrete beams into place. see PARKWAY page 6
Blount County Roundabout Project Receives Safety Award
ALDOT photo
ALDOT was one of 12 winners from nine different states in the SASHTO region.
On Aug. 28, 2026, the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO) recognized the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) with its first America’s Transportation Award. The new triple roundabout on SR-160 in Hayden received regional honors for Small Project in the Safety category. The $8.6 million safety upgrade installed three roundabouts at the
busy SR-160 intersection with I-65 in Blount County. It was designed to help reduce the number of wrongway wrecks at Exit 234 ramps. Sain Associates created the design while Vulcan Materials Asphalt and Construction served as the prime contractor and Neel-Schaffer provided consulting. Pre-construction data showed there were 56 crashes in three years at the short stretch of SR-160, eight with injuries.
Following its completion in the summer of 2025, ALDOT crash statistics showed a 50 percent reduction in crashes per month by the end of the year, with no injuries through the project area. “There’s no doubt in my mind that without the roundabouts there, we would have already had a fatality at this intersection,” Hayden Police Chief James Chapman said in late 2025. see AWARD page 2
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ALDOT One of 12 Winners of Regional Transportation Award AWARD from page 1
ALDOT was one of 12 winners from nine different states in the SASHTO region. It competed against 34 projects from 11 states before receiving its first ever America’s Transportation Award sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). “For almost two decades, the America’s Transportation Awards has highlighted the innovative work state DOTs do to improve communities and enhance the lives of the people who live and visit them. But the truth is, these projects are just a fraction of the incredible work done by state DOTs every year,” said Jim Tymon, AASHTO executive director. “AASHTO is proud to recognize the diverse and forwardthinking projects that are improving safety, mobility, and quality of life in communities across the country.” Following this honor, the three highest scoring SASHTO winners will advance to the Top 12 national AASHTO competition. The 12 finalists will be unveiled over the next few weeks and compete in the 2026 America’s Transportation Awards in November.
ALDOT photo
Following its completion in the summer of 2025, ALDOT crash statistics showed a 50 percent reduction in crashes per month by the end of the year, with no injuries through the project area.
Brasfield & Gorrie Expands Birmingham Headquarters Brasfield & Gorrie has broken ground on a four-story, 88,000-sq.-ft. building that will expand its existing headquarters in Birmingham’s Lakeview District. The general contractor recently completed its headquarters parking deck expansion, adding a fourth level to support the company’s ongoing hiring needs. “Birmingham has been home to this company for over 60 years, and that’s not something we take lightly,” said Brasfield & Gorrie CEO Rob Blalock. “We’re investing in this city’s future by expanding our workforce, growing our footprint and putting our resources where our roots are. We want Brasfield & Gorrie to be the place where talented people come to build something real, and we’re giving them the space, the tools and the environment to do it.” The approximately $65 million expansion will offer increased office space and conference rooms that will accommodate both the company’s training needs and those of its partners. With this addition, the company expects to add a minimum of 80 new full-time positions with an average salary of $82,000 — growth that builds on Brasfield & Gorrie’s recent recognition as the Birmingham Business Journal’s No. 1 Best Place to Work among extra-large companies.
With more than $100 million invested in its headquarters over the past several years, the general contractor is helping shape the Lakeview District. The expansion comes as Alabama’s commercial construction industry continues a season of growth. The industry added more than 5,000 jobs between 2021 and 2023,
according to a 2026 economic impact study by Economic Research Services Inc. Brasfield & Gorrie has added more than 600 jobs in Alabama over the last five years, spanning both corporate roles and field positions. Birmingham topped ADP’s ranking of the best U.S. cities for recent college graduates, and the company is expanding its capacity to
attract and grow the next generation of talent. Brasfield & Gorrie has partnered with the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County and the state of Alabama to bring the project to life, reflecting a shared investment in the city’s continued growth. The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028.
Brasfield & Gorrie photo
The approximately $65 million expansion will offer increased office space and conference rooms that will accommodate both the company’s training needs and those of its partners.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 16, 2026 • Page 3
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Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • September 16, 2026 • Page 5
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Rogers Group Works With ALDOT On Parkway Project PARKWAY from page 1
According to Burkett, contractor Rogers Group has kept the project moving along at a steady pace. “Rogers Group Inc. handles many state road projects in North Alabama. ALDOT has worked with them extensively, and we have a good working relationship. Also, RGI’s bridge subcontractor on this project, Miller & Miller, is another that has constructed many projects for us. “Rogers Group expanded to become one of the major contractors in the Huntsville area with the acquisition of Huntsville-based Reed Contracting several years ago. Notably, Reed and Miller & Miller partnered on the last Memorial Parkway overpass construction project in Huntsville, with Reed constructing the roads and Miller & Miller constructing the bridges. That project was on South Memorial Parkway and included a bridge on Martin Road over the parkway and parkway mainline overpasses at Byrd Spring Road and Logan Drive/Lily Flagg Road.” Construction has been going well, with the overpass bridge recently completed. Current work includes installing foundations for roadway lighting and completing gaps left for the foundations in the walls and mainline asphalt. Future tasks include final paving, installing roadway lighting, signs and striping. Due to its location, construction of an on-ramp from the northbound service road will take place after the mainline is opened to traffic. The project includes mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls that carry the mainline. They consist of layers of concrete panels, reinforcing elements and compacted fill. There also are poured-in-place concrete retaining walls separating the frontage roads from local access roads, due to grade differences, and providing safety for residential areas. Among the construction milestones was the opening to traffic of the frontage roads in late 2024, which marked roughly the midway point of the project, when the focus of work shifted to the mainline and overpass. Other highlights include the beginning of paving on the mainline and completion of the bridge. Burkett explained the biggest challenges for crews involved existing utility conflicts, as well as the need to manage the large volume of daily traffic through the project. Approximately 56,000 cu. yds. of unclassified excavation have been moved during construction, along with 70,000 cu. yds. of borrow. Demolition called for removing the previous
ALDOT photo
Cranes are on site, as crews prepare to lift overpass girders into position.
lanes along the parkway to facilitate the new bridge, along with multiple side accesses to the parkway. Heavy machinery on site has included dozers, trackhoes, cranes and paving equipment. Dirt, rock, asphalt, concrete and steel are among the materials required to carry out the work. According to Burkett, Alabama’s changing weather patterns haven’t always cooperated during construction. “The unpredictable rain showers sometimes slowed the
ALDOT photo
The northbound U.S.-231/ U.S.-431/North Memorial Parkway service road undergoes a complete closure for several hours for installation of bridge girders on the north span of the overpass at Mastin Lake Road.
ALDOT photo
Current work includes installing foundations for roadway lighting and completing gaps left for the foundations in the walls and mainline asphalt.
ALDOT photo
Workers install girders for the north span of the overpass.
ALDOT photo
Dirt, rock, asphalt, concrete and steel are among the materials required to carry out the work.
placement of soil. Also, cold winters have pushed concrete placement to times when adequate temperature was achieved.” ALDOT anticipates completion of the project by the end of the year. For Burkett, it’s rewarding to watch the work winding down. “It’s great to see everything coming together. We look forward to opening the new mainline and overpass to traffic. Although there will be a fair amount of work remaining at that point, I suspect that motorists driving over that intersection for the first time will experience a sense of fulfillment.” CEG
ALDOT photo
Girders for the new overpass are installed mostly after dark to minimize traffic disruptions.
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