"font-size: small;">BAY

MINETTE, Ala. — The state’s plans to add bicycle lanes on the

2-mile stretch of Hand Avenue are being met with opposition from

Bay Minette residents.

"font-size: small;">“Everybody

I’ve talked to is against it,” Bay Minette City Councilman Danleigh

Corbett said during an informational meeting about a proposed

alternative-truck route held at City Hall on

Monday.

"font-size: small;">That was in

response to a presentation by Alabama Department of Transportation

Division Maintenance Engineer Lee Reach P.E., in which he, instead,

discussed a proposal to transform the five-lane road into three

lanes that would be flanked by bicycle lanes on both sides of the

highway.

"font-size: small;">Corbett’s

sentiments were echoed by several audience members in the city

council chambers that were nearly filled to capacity. But according

to an ALDOT study, the project’s benefits would include improved

vehicular and pedestrian safety, calmer traffic and improved

emergency response time.

"font-size: small;">”There’s

more benefits to it than just slowing traffic down,” Reach told

those attending Monday’s meeting.

"font-size: small;">He added

that one benefit to going ahead with the project would mean a lower

price tag.

"font-size: small;">“To do it

now will cost $5,500,” he said. “To wait until next year to convert

it to a three-lane is going to cost $300,000.”

"font-size: small;">The savings

would occur because ALDOT is going to pave Hand Avenue anyway. So

adding stripes that would restructure the lanes would have a

minimal financial impact. But to revisit the idea later would

involve planning, labor and administrative costs, Reach

said.

"font-size: small;">However, he

did point out some downsides to the project, which include vehicles

moving more slowly or making frequent stops, increased delays at

driveways and fewer opportunities to pass other vehicles on the

road.

"font-size: small;">According

to Reach, this project is separate from the city’s plan to create

an alternative route for commercial truck traffic, which had been

the intended focus of Monday’s meeting before questions and

concerts from residents brought the Hand Avenue project to the

foreground.

"font-size: small;">During

Monday’s meeting, Reach explained that discussion on Hand Avenue’s

transformation began several months ago when the state began

looking at paving the highway.

"font-size: small;">“Our plan

was just to resurface it and put it back exactly like it was,” he

said.

"font-size: small;">However,

ALDOT officials found that federal mandates stipulate that when

such projects are planned, the addition of bicycle and pedestrian

traffic must be considered. That’s because 80 percent of ALDOT’s

annual resurfacing budget is federally funded and environmental

impact on traffic is a federal priority, Reach

explained.

"font-size: small;">If ALDOT

moves forward with the project, work would begin this

spring.

"font-size: small;">“It would

take about two and a half months to finish,” Reach

said.

"font-size: small;">As for the

city’s plan to install a truck route, a final informational meeting

is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday at City Hall. Then Bay Minette City

Council will then consider the matter at its next meeting on Feb.

6.