By Chris Yow
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Concerns about traffic on U.S. 11 certainly has been a topic of conversation in Trussville, and with the development of a new shopping center along the highway, the concerns continue to grow. Homestead Village shopping center developer Blackwater Resources says they have a plan that will allow safe travels without slowing down traffic in the area.
Director of Planning Phillip McAfee told the Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club the area will have designated entrances with turn lanes to allow for easy access.
“We have two accesses into the property. One is at the signal, because that was the logical location to bring access. We also have a ride-in, ride-out,” he said.
McAfee added the only way to turn left from the property will be to use the traffic signal.
“Working with ALDOT and Darrell Skipper, We’ve mitigated any potential impact we would have on traffic,” McAfee said. “Traffic controls are turn lanes off of highway 11 to allow traffic to get off, and not stop the main flow of cars.”
Travellers along the highway will also notice the buildings will be lower than the highway. McAfee said there will be an 18-22 foot drop from the road to the buildings. That, along with landscaping and a brick screen fence, the shopping center won’t be a visible hinderance.
“At the intersection, you will be looking out across and there will be landscaping that will screen a lot of it,” he said. “One of the things we did, was the addition of a four foot tall brick screen fence along the frontage. Some of the sightlines will be hindered because of the screen.”
The company countered the visibility issue with the tenants by having two signs placed at the frontage along the highway.
“The tenants carry a lot of weight. That’s why the two signs we got approved up on the highway was so important. That gives us the flexibility to have any tenant that comes into the center to have a sign,” McAfee said.
The shopping center is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2017.