By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Local residents and business owners soon may see movement on some road projects in Alabaster, the city’s mayor told about 15 local business owners during a March 16 meeting at Alabaster City Hall.

During the meeting, which featured guest speakers from APH Radio, the Arc of Shelby County, Community Response Systems and Fox 6, Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon gave business owners an update on several city projects.

Handlon said a project to extend Fulton Springs Road from its current terminus at Old Highway 31 to U.S. 31 will begin within the next few months.

Once the extension is completed, the Shelby County Highway Department will make the Fulton Springs Road-Old Highway 31 a two-way stop rather than a four-way stop to allow traffic on Fulton Springs to travel through the intersection without stopping.

Handlon also said the county is planning to let bids in May on a project to widen Thompson Road and install sidewalks along the road between Warrior Drive and Alabama 119.

“So we should see dirt moving on that project in May,” Handlon said.

Another major road project is in the works for Alabama 119 south of its intersection with Fulton Springs Road, Handlon said. She said the project is approaching the right-of-way acquisition stage, and said dirt could begin moving on the project “within 12 to 18 months.”

“It’s a very long and arduous process that’s slowed down by the use of federal dollars. They have been working on mandated studies since we were awarded that money three-and-a-half years ago,” Handlon said of the Alabama 119 project. “I know it’s not happening as fast as we would like, but it will help to address some of our congestion problems.”

Handlon and Alabaster Fire Chief Jim Golden also touted a recent city move to combine the Alabaster Building Safety Department with the city’s Fire Department.

“We are very excited about partnering with the Building Department to bring them under our umbrella,” Golden said. “There was some overlap that was taking place, so by bringing all of those responsibilities under our roof will help to make both (departments) more efficient.”