Be prepared: Breakdown by intersection of the changes to U.S. 280
Beginning with Mountain Brook Plaza and moving East down U.S. 280, here is what drivers can expect to encounter at the updated intersections: (Intersections linked to official ALDOT renderings)
• Mountain Brook Plaza – The traffic signal was removed at this intersection and a concrete island was installed in the center of the highway. The island prevents traffic from traveling directly across the highway or making left turns onto U.S. 280 from side streets.
• Office Park – The traffic signal remains, but direct travel across the intersection from side streets was eliminated. Dual left-turn lanes into Office Park were installed from both directions of 280, and access to these from westbound lanes has been extended.
• Lakeshore Drive – A fourth lane was added for westbound travelers that extends from Lakeshore Drive to Mountain Brook Plaza. Previously, drivers were required to merge left into traffic from the Lakeshore ramp. This is no longer the case. A lane that extends to Rocky Ridge Road was also added for eastbound drivers.
• Cherokee Road – The traffic signal remains for left turns onto Cherokee Road from 280, which will stop westbound traffic, but eastbound traffic traveling through the intersection does not stop.
Direct travel across the intersection was eliminated, and drivers wishing to travel across or make left turns onto U.S. 280 from either side of Cherokee Road are required to perform U-turns. ALDOT envisioned these turns would take place at Lakeshore Drive for vehicles approaching the highway from Cherokee Road North, and at Overton Road for vehicles approaching from Cherokee Road South.
A right-turn lane and acceleration lane were added onto Cherokee Road South, as drivers are now required to merge across three lanes to make the U-turn at Overton Road.
• Overton Road – A new traffic signal was installed for the westbound lanes of U.S. 280 that protects drivers making U-turns or turning onto Overton Road from eastbound lanes. It’s timed with the signal at Rocky Ridge Road to reduce any effect it might have on overall flow.
An additional U-turn lane was added for eastbound traffic. Of these two lanes, only the right connects to Overton Road. The inside lane is U-turn-only.
• Rocky Ridge Road – The single lane on Shades Crest that currently connects to Rocky Ridge will have clearly-defined right- and left-turn lanes. In addition, Rocky Ridge Road will have two receiving lanes from U.S. 280 and three left-turn lanes from Rocky Ridge back to the highway.
Other work at the intersection includes coordinating the signals and eliminating access to Rocky Ridge Road from Florida Short Route, currently located only a few yards from the U.S. 280 intersection.
• Green Valley Road – The traffic signal remains for left turns onto Green Valley Road from 280, which will stop westbound traffic, but eastbound traffic traveling through the intersection does not stop.
ALDOT installed an “Alabama T” at this intersection, which features an acceleration lane for vehicles turning left onto U.S. 280 from Green Valley.