Nothing Will Be Done in East Florence Until Roundabout Completed?

Approximately 30 years ago, the City of Florence redid the intersection of Royal Avenue and Huntsville Road. It was done in connection with new sidewalks and other improvements designed to enhance the eastern area of Florence. We all know how this area boomed afterwards. Yes, that was sarcasm.

Now that roundabouts have been greatly improved (more sarcasm), the city has decided to implement that particular type of traffic snafu at the previously reconfigured intersection. Send your children to engineering school, and perhaps they too may have input on the next big traffic-control idea to be implemented at the intersection in 30 more years.

So why isn't the roundabout being constructed? The Alabama Department of Transportation has not yet approved it. Ah, yes, ALDOT rears its horned head. Well, it is the Halloween season.

The past few weeks, we've had multiple questions and comments about ALDOT. Some understand how much control this organization has at the local level, while others apparently think we make this stuff up. Tomorrow we'll look at just what ALDOT can do (control) and which projects they currently are working on locally.

Until ALDOT approves the current roundabout plans, and it may be some time, nothing will be done at the controversial intersection. The city has purchased a vacant lot for more parking, especially needed at lunch time. Yes, East Florence is booming in the eatery department, and should continue to grow in this direction with the construction of the new hospital.

Can we logically expect other retail growth? We would say not until something is done at the maligned intersection. Even then, retail has always been iffy. Shoalanda herself is expecting three packages this week. Yes, isn't it horrible to have to walk to the front door to retrieve one's shopping? No, it's pretty convenient. In other words, East Florence will never be a shopping mecca. Whether it becomes anything at all may depend on the new roundabout. Sounds like a horror movie, doesn't it?

*****

*****