Governor Ivey Announces First Phase of Birmingham Northern Beltline Now Open to Traffic
MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced the opening of the first segment of the new Birmingham Northern Beltline (SR-959). The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) officially opened the new roadway between SR-79 and SR-75 in northeast Jefferson County to traffic this morning. This 1.88-mile section is the first leg of the future 52-mile I-422. The overall Northern Beltline will ultimately span from I-459 in Bessemer to I-59 in northeast Jefferson County.
“The completion of the first phase of the Northern Beltline is a watershed moment in this transformational project critical to future economic development in Jefferson and surrounding counties,” said Governor Ivey. “I commend the tremendous foundational work performed by former Senator Richard Shelby, former Congressman Spencer Bachus, our current congressional delegation and the Trump Administration in making this historic day possible.”
Moving Forward
This initial phase between the Bradford and Palmerdale communities was completed early and under projected cost estimates. ALDOT is now actively working to continue the momentum with construction on the Northern Beltline’s next eight miles west to US-31 in Gardendale. Current plans include awarding contracts on multiple phases in 2027.
“This is a monumental step forward for a dream birthed over 40 years ago to create a new connection between southwest and northeast Jefferson County,” said ALDOT East Central Region Engineer DeJarvis Leonard. “ALDOT is excited about this milestone and is diligently working to ensure construction begins on the remaining legs of this transformative project in a timely manner.”
Significant Impact
A study by the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research showed that the Northern Beltline is expected to generate up to $1.9 billion annually in statewide economic output and support over 11,700 jobs each year once complete. It is designed to enhance cross-region accessibility and promote significant economic development along the corridor.
“This has been an exciting year for the Jefferson County region, with the new U.S. Coast Guard facility and Fannie Mae relocating from San Francisco to Birmingham,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “The Northern Beltline will help surrounding communities reap the economic benefits of these developments, and I look forward to its completion.”
“I have long recognized the importance of the Northern Beltline and worked for years to help get this critical infrastructure project off the ground,” said Senator Katie Britt. “Today’s announcement is the result of the tireless work of so many state and local leaders, and I’ve been proud to work alongside them to recognize that Alabama’s economic future and regional connectivity depend on infrastructure projects like this one. This is a landmark moment for the Northern Beltline, and I look forward to supporting its continued momentum. Alabamians across our state will feel the benefits of this highway through shorter commutes, safer roads, and the economic growth that comes when we invest in the infrastructure our communities need. I’ll keep working to see this project through to completion, because Alabama deserves nothing less.”
“The opening of the first section of the Birmingham Northern Beltline is an important milestone for Jefferson County and the entire Birmingham region,” said Congressman Gary Palmer. “For years, local, state and federal leaders have worked together to move this project forward, and today we are seeing that work become a reality. The Northern Beltline will strengthen connectivity across our region, support economic growth and provide new opportunities for the communities it serves. I am grateful to everyone who has worked to reach this point, and I look forward to building on this progress as construction continues.”
Reactions from other notable stakeholders:
“The opening of the first section of the Northern Beltline is a breakthrough in moving this project forward,” said District 4 Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight. “Although it has taken longer than anticipated, I applaud the continued commitment of the Coalition for Regional Transportation (CRT) and their hard work in staying the course to reach this milestone. I want to thank U.S. Senator Katie Britt, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Representatives Gary Palmer and Robert Aderholt, state Senator Shay Shelnutt, and state Representatives Treadway and Garrett for their continuing support. In the short run, this two-mile section is beneficial in connecting the Palmerdale and Bradford communities. However, the addition of this section to the next section that will connect to the I-65 corridor in 2030 will have a huge impact on the northeastern portion of Jefferson County. Finally, I want to thank all of the workers who have endured heat, cold and storms in making this first step possible,”
“The Birmingham Northern Beltline will serve Blount County, positively impacting everything from economic development to workforce access and emergency response,” said Blount County Commission Chairman Bradley Harvey. “We are thankful for the progress being made and will continue to support efforts to accelerate construction.”
“We thank Alabama’s congressional delegation for securing funding for the Northern Beltline as part of the multi-state Appalachian Development Highway System, and we will continue working with state and local leaders to advance the project to deliver the benefits of completion to our state and region,” said Janet Kavinoky, Chair of the Coalition for Regional Transportation.
“I am so excited to hear that the first leg of the Northern Beltline is about to open,” said Mayor Stan Hogeland, City of Gardendale/President of the Jefferson County Mayors Association. “As the mayor of Gardendale, this is a big deal for the north Jefferson community as well as Blount County. The next step will be connecting this section to Highway 31 in Gardendale. There will be countless lives saved when the first responders can shorten drive times by 20 minutes or more headed to UAB Gardendale. Also, the economic development opportunities along the route will create new jobs, additional housing opportunities as well as bringing additional visitors to our city for shopping and dining. Thank you to everyone involved for prioritizing this desperately needed highway.”
“Opening this section of the Northern Beltline creates a more direct connection between Bradford and Palmerdale – the two bookends of our 52-square-mile fire district – and will help our crews respond to emergencies faster and get patients to the hospital sooner,” said Chief Taylor Hancock Palmerdale Fire Department. “We are grateful for this investment in northern Jefferson County, which strengthens public safety today while preparing our communities for the growth ahead.”
Photos of the newly opened Northern Beltline are attached.
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