By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Alabaster leaders recently moved one step closer to widening Alabama 119 between Shelby County 26 and Shelby County 80 after they approved agreements with the Alabama Department of Transportation on the project.

During a February meeting, the Alabaster City Council voted unanimously to sign agreements with ALDOT to begin corridor and engineering studies on the widening project. Once completed, the project will widen Alabama 119 south of the Publix shopping center.

Through the agreement, Alabaster will pay $200,000 to match $800,000 in federal grant funds to pay for the engineering and corridor studies before moving on to the property acquisition phase of the project.

After the property acquisition phase, construction likely will take about 36 months, city leaders said previously.

In 2012, the state approved about $10 million in funding to four-lane the section of Alabama 119 through its Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program.

During a December 2013 meeting, the Alabaster City Council voted to approve an agreement with ALDOT to install traffic lights at the intersection of Alabama 119 and Shelby County 80. Through the agreement, ALDOT will provide $450,727 and Alabaster will provide $222,000 to purchase and install the new traffic signals.

City officials previously said the signals will help to alleviate frequent congestion at the intersection, particularly for those living in Wynlake and other subdivisions on Shelby County 80.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry previously said crews have already relocated some utility lines to accommodate the installation of the new traffic signals, and said the signals will be installed with the future widening project in mind.

“The city is very appreciative of the partnership and guidance ALDOT provides,” Henry wrote in an email on March 4.