Cherokee Road signal to be removed Friday

The Alabama Department of Transportation is urging drivers to be prepared as it finalizes intersection work on U.S. 280 through Mountain Brook.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2, contractors will begin steps to put traffic in its permanent state. The first item in the process, according to ALDOT Division 3 Engineer Brian Davis, is to activate the new signal at Overton Road. The signal has already been placed and is operating in “flash mode.”

When this signal is active, it will protect left turns across U.S. 280 lanes inbound to Birmingham and drivers using the new U-turn lane. Davis said the light would be timed with the signal at Rocky Ridge Road to minimize its impact on overall traffic flow.

Once this signal is active, Davis said the next step would be to remove the signal over U.S. 280’s eastbound lanes at Cherokee Road. Davis did not indicate a specific time this would occur, as contractors intend to work throughout the night and finalize their requirements for the Aug. 5 interim completion date.

When this change goes into effect, U.S. 280 drivers heading toward The Summit will not stop. Drivers on the south side of Cherokee Road will be required to use the protected U-turn lane at Overton Road to travel toward Mountain Brook Country Club on Cherokee Road or toward Birmingham on U.S, 280.

This maneuver would require merging across four lanes to reach the U-turn lane – a maneuver the mountain Brook City Council has openly opposed since it was pitched in 2012. ALDOT Director John Cooper informed the council he would consider additional changes to intersections in Mountain Brook if the plan “proved unworkable,” Council President Virginia Smith said. But leaders have maintained their concern for local residents.

“I don’t know what ALDOTs definition of ‘workable’ is,” she added. “Obviously though, proving them unworkable may mean accidents at those intersections.”

Following the removal of the light at Cherokee Road, Davis said workers would begin moving traffic into its permanent location. Contractors will spend the night re-striping lanes and finishing guardrails.

“You’ve reached major milestone when you quit moving traffic around,” Davis said.

Davis said some maneuvers would be very different on completion than the ones drivers have gotten used to making in the last seven years. He encouraged residents who use U.S. 280 on weekdays to take time on Saturday and Sunday to get accustomed to the changes.

“That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect come Monday morning,” he said. “Be prepared to go through the area more slowly and be patient with drivers who may not know what to do.”

Davis said Alabama State Troopers will be strategically placed at altered intersections to encourage responsible driving.

ALDOT began distributing educational material and airing television commercials at the end of July. It also launched an informative website, better280.org, that plainly describes the changes.

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.