Turning lane project delays explained

HALEYVILLE       - The wheels are turning once again on the turning lane project at the intersection of Highway 195  and 20th Avenue in Haleyville after numerous red lights both before and during the project.
Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri addressed delays on the project during the September 6, Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce meeting.
“Yes, I’m aware they have not worked on our road in the last two weeks,” Sunseri stated.
Sunseri explained that the head engineer for the area has sent a letter of intent to the project contractor, telling them they only have 19 days left in the project.
“At that point in time, they will be fined on a daily basis,” Sunseri informed Chamber members.
Sunseri noted after the meeting that he contacts ALDOT on a daily basis about the project.
“That’s all I can do,” he said. “Right now, they keep saying they’ve got a scheduling problem.  My question is, why are they not going ahead and doing the poles for the lights while they are waiting on the concrete guy to come in?” Sunseri pointed out. “Do something.”
Sunseri emphasized this was an ALDOT-funded project, and that comments and questions should be directed to them.
The Alabamian contacted John McWilliams, public information officer for the West-Central region of ALDOT, who explained the delays in the project, but optimistically assured that the wheels were turning once again to move the project toward completion.
“It’s a small change, but it will have a big impact on the community.  We’re really looking forward to this project,” McWilliams added.
Work crews are not allowed to be working  on the project site on school days from 6-9 a.m. and again from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the most congested times due to school traffic, ALDOT officials said.
McWilliams explained that plans were at the end of the previous week, weather permitting, for the contractor to pour foundations in preparation for the installation of poles where new traffic signals will be installed at the intersection.
“That should be taking place, as long as it doesn’t rain on us,” advised McWilliams.
However, the area received rainfall from a tropical system this past Wednesday through Friday, which was expected by contractors to further hinder the project.
Keith Woodard, foreman for CJ Jones, one of the contractors for ALDOT working on the project, explained Tuesday morning, Sept. 10,  that they were responsible for digging out dirt, as well as doing curb, guttering and installation of culverts in preparation for the acceleration lane to be constructed on Highway 195.
This new acceleration lane, expected to be 10 feet in width and about 700 feet in length, will be added to the right side of Highway 195  approaching the turn onto 20th Avenue from the side of the project closest to the Glass House Car Wash.
The Rogers Group, another contractor for ALDOT, will then apply asphalt or a surface treatment to the work done by CJ Jones, Woodard explained.
The project will also add two traffic light poles to the right side of Highway 195 diagonally across from the Chevron station, with the base to the pole already laid, Woodard showed.
“We still plan to finish this project this fall,” McWilliams noted.
McWilliams was then asked about project delays, where no workers were on the project site, aside from the restricted times due to school traffic.
“We issue the contract that has so many work days.  The contractor can choose to use those days however they want to,” McWilliams explained.
“It’s a working day project,” he continued, “so if it rains one day, then obviously that doesn’t count for it.
“There have been some delays when it comes to signal pole.  We’ve been in touch with the contractor to get them to help expedite this project and move it along,” McWilliams pointed out.
“We’re encouraged, after talking about what is going to take place next week, and  hopefully we can get them back on track,” McWilliams added.
Another factor, when the public does not see work at the project site outside restricted hours, is that contractors sometimes have jobs at other locations, ALDOT officials explained.
“If a contractor has a project, they aren’t just in that one location the entire time,” McWilliams stated. “There are multiple projects they have throughout the state, so they are moving from one to another.”