About

Birmingham’s Northern Beltline

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has completed the first phase of the Birmingham Northern Beltline, a 52-mile, six lane corridor that will eventually stretch from I-59 in northeast Jefferson County to the I-459 interchange with I-59/20 near Bessemer. Construction on the first phase, a 1.34 mile highway grade and drain project from SR 79 to SR 75, began in February 2014.

Construction of the Northern Beltline is expected to enhance cross-region accessibility, create jobs, stimulate economic growth and respond to existing development, as well as address future traffic growth. Birmingham is unique among U.S. urban areas because it has four interstates that converge and connect to other southeastern metropolitan areas. The Beltline will someday touch every mainline interstate in Jefferson County, creating significant opportunities for growth, prosperity and interconnectivity across the greater Birmingham area and within the Southeast.

We hope you will visit this website periodically for any updates on the Beltline. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. ALDOT thanks you for your interest as we continue our mission of providing a safe, efficient and environmentally-sound Northern Beltline in Birmingham.

Project Team

East Central Region Engineer, ALDOT

Mr. Leonard began his employment with ALDOT while attending college. Positions he has held include Project Inspector/Survey Crewman, Assistant Project Engineer, Project Engineer, District Engineer in Madison County, and the Assistant Division Engineer for County Transportation. He has served as Division Engineer since 2004 and was appointed East Central Region Engineer in October 2014.

He received a BS degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Alabama A&M University and a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Auburn University.

Assistant Region Engineer, Pre-Construction

Over his 40-year career with the Alabama Department of Transportation, Steve Haynes has served as a District Engineer, Project Engineer, Division Design Engineer, Division Location Engineer, Division Pre-Construction Engineer, and now serves as the Assistant Region Engineer for Pre-Construction in the East Central Region.

Steve is a Graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He has a Professional Engineer’s License and a Professional Land Surveyor’s License.

Birmingham Area Construction Engineer, ALDOT

Mr. Smith joined ALDOT in 1990 and worked on various construction projects as a Project Inspector and later as a Project Engineer. He later served as a District Manager prior to being appointed to his current position.

He received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Auburn University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Alabama.

COG Facilitator

Ms. Cousins is the principal of Ashley Cousins Environmental Strategies & Solutions, LLC (ACESS), an environmental consulting firm that specializes in strategic environmental project planning, communications, regulatory support, and issues management. She has been involved in many environmental projects including commercial and industrial site acquisition; transportation projects; environmental investigations and remediation; environmental permitting, compliance and regulatory negotiation and communication. Ms. Cousins also provides community outreach, communication, and public involvement services for management of sensitive environmental issues. Examples of such projects include the Coliseum Boulevard Plume in Montgomery, Alabama; US 98 in Mobile County, Alabama; and the Norfolk Southern Intermodal Facility in McCalla, Alabama. She is located in Montgomery. She is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Public Information Officer, East Central Region

Linda Crockett is a 20 year State employee with 16 years at ALDOT. She worked for 15 years as a Public Information Officer for the Central Office before transferring to the East Central Region.

She received her B.S. in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Alabama State University.

Governmental Relations Manager/ Bureau Chief, Media & Community Relations, ALDOT

Mr. Harris has worked in communications, public relations, and governmental affairs since 1993. He joined the Director’s staff in November 2004 where he serves as ALDOT’s primary spokesman with the news media and manages the Department’s Media and Community Relations Bureau.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Public Relations from Troy State University, and has completed graduate studies in Public Administration. He is a 2005 graduate of the National Transportation Management Conference, and is also a graduate of Wiregrass Leadership Institute, one of Alabama’s regional leadership development programs.

Future Projects

From SR-79 to SR-75
Major grading and drainage, bridges, base and paving

From SR-75 to CR-30 (Old Springville Road)
Preliminary engineering including surveying and drilling
Includes relocating CR-30

From CR-30 to I-59
Preliminary engineering including surveying and drilling

From I-65 to US-31
Preliminary engineering including surveying and drilling
Includes work on I-65 for acceleration/deceleration lanes

From US-31 to Cunningham Creek
Preliminary engineering including surveying and drilling
Includes relocating US-31

From Cunningham Creek to SR-79
Preliminary engineering including surveying and drilling

Contact Us

If you have questions or comments about the project, please feel free to contact us.