A portion of the track is paved at the Mike Gilbreath Memorial Park in Double Springs. A part still unpaved can be seen above the asphalt in the photo. Though still closed, the construction company will have the park completed soon.
DOUBLE SPRINGS - Damage to the walking track at Mike Gilbreath Memorial Park, due to time, weather and roots, caused the park to be closed in February of this year for renovations. According to reports at the town meeting Monday, Sept. 14, the repaving of the track and lighting are the only issues left to complete before the park reopens.
The light poles have been installed, along with a new electrical system. The company doing the work is B Construction, LLC, of Winfield, and the town has paid 50 percent toward the project with the other half coming from the Alabama Department of Soil and Water Conservation.
“If you get a chance, go by the park and look at the lighting,” Robinson told the council members. “I went by there the other night, and they have all the creosote poles down. They only need to put the cameras up and finish the paving. They have quite a bit of it paved.”
The park is located west of the community center. Originally named Willow Run Park when it was opened in 1986, it was renamed in 2010 in honor of Mike Gilbreath, a fire fighter who lost his life while cleaning debris from County Road 25 in 2009.
During other business, Representative Tracy Estes attended the meeting and brought news on the traffic light on Highway 33 at the intersection of County Road 24 to Winston County High School.
“We keep getting shot down because traffic numbers don’t merit (a traffic light),” Estes explained. “I’ve stayed after them, and we’ve been asking for this in Double Springs I understand for close to 40 years. We need to let the people of Double Springs see the state has a concern for the people’s well-being. They’ve asked if we would be interested in putting in at least one or two lanes.”
It has been suggested the current turning lane onto County Road 24 toward WCHS be extended. Engineers are also looking into adding a turning lane left to County Road 24 heading south on Highway 33. Money for the project will come from the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II.
“The mayor needs official endorsement from the council to begin the process of filing the application to see if we can get the money,” Estes said. In the meantime, an extensive study will be performed at the intersection.
“We have a unique situation there,” Council member Hobby Walker said. “We’re not concerned with traffic congestion. It’s the safety of all those school kids.”
“They are your most vulnerable drivers,” Estes agreed. “Kids barely have any experience whatsoever in driving, and we’re asking them to pull out in probably the most dangerous intersection in our community.”
Several accidents and one death have been reported at this intersection over the past few decades.
A motion and second was given for the mayor to pursue the ATRIP-II application process.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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