ALDOT

Alabama schools, cities and towns are shutting down in anticipation of freezing rain, ice and snow in the forecast. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports the winter weather will impact the northern and central portions of Central Alabama late Thursday night through Friday evening.

Motorists in the Birmingham area may be cheering a newly proposed highway project. It’s called the Northern Beltway. The idea is to funnel traffic, so it skirts around downtown Birmingham. That may sound good on paper, but environmentalists are among those crying foul over the project.

A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect for the northern third of Alabama as forecasters say conditions are increasing for possible snow and ice. In preparation for the incoming inclement weather, the Alabama Department of Transportation is ramping up its preparation efforts on roadways and bridges.

Governor Kay Ivey is “on the road” for her final Rebuild Alabama Road Tour stop. This is for this round of funding to continue highlighting the transformational progress made by the Rebuild Alabama Act.

The devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton is still being tallied as a swath of Florida comes to terms with damage from the unusual dual strike of storms in just two weeks. Alabama Department of Transportation workers have deployed to Florida to aid with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Additionally, Alabama is sending a public health support team to North Carolina to assist in their Helene recovery.

Gov. Kay Ivey is announcing $3.1 million in state funding is being awarded to cities and counties for various road and bridge projects across Alabama. The funding is made available under the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Annual Grant Program created by the Rebuild Alabama Act.

A judge has dismissed a harassment charge against state Transportation Director John Cooper. Prosecutors in Marshall County said the complainant no longer wishes to pursue this matter. District Judge Mitchell S. Floyd dismissed the charge Tuesday.

The Alabama Department of Transportation is announcing more than $485,000 in state funding is going toward improving three municipal airports in the state. The grants are made possible through the department's Alabama Airport Improvement Funding Program.

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that the Alabama Department of Transportation refused to rehire a worker due to his physical disability. The worker was injured while working as a technician for the state department in 2007.

Project plans are at 80% completion, and the city is in the process of submitting them to the Alabama Department of Transportation this month for their review. After this, two subsequent submittals to ALDOT will be made before obtaining their approval to advertise and initiate the construction bidding process.