Typically, a street’s profile does not change much over the short distance of three-quarters of a mile. However, on South McGregor Avenue, three-quarters of a mile is expected to make a significant difference to the major roadway in Mobile, Alabama. The City of Mobile, general contractor H.O. Weaver and Sons Inc., and the Alabama Department of Transportation are working to reconstruct the roadway.
The need for improvement has been clear to Mobile officials for years, with the project being part of their plans for over a decade. In addition to securing the needed funds, Mobile had to purchase 40-plus parcels of land from residents or businesses to make the project happen.
“Real estate acquisition cost $3 million and took nearly three years to complete,” said Nick Amberger, City of Mobile Engineer and Executive Director of Engineering and Infrastructure.
The section of South McGregor Avenue where the project is taking place is just west (less than a mile) of Interstate 65, which runs north-south through the state. Yet, the average daily traffic on South McGregor Avenue is 19,000, as some drivers use it as a pass-through.
During peak hours, drivers from surrounding areas use the road to get to the commercial areas, which impacts both ends of the project. Another contribution to the traffic is a hospital that is a couple of miles to the west.
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The north end of the corridor borders residential neighborhoods on the east and west sides. In that vicinity, South McGregor Avenue is two lanes. At the south end of the corridor, South McGregor Avenue is five lanes and is in the middle of a large and active commercial corridor.
One of the biggest challenges and an impetus of the project, according to Amberger, is respecting the residential element of the corridor while ensuring the road can handle large volumes during peak times.
“We expect this project to improve traffic flow, increase the quality of life for area residents, improve efficiency of traffic, and make the corridor safer and more pedestrian friendly,” Amberger said.
The corridor, built around 1950, has not had significant work (only routine resurfacing) since it was originally constructed. The needs of drivers and pedestrians have changed significantly.
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The scope of the complete rebuild includes the following:
- Replacing above- and below-ground utilities (water, sewer, storm drain, and more)
- Replacing a bridge culvert
- Relocating a large gas main
- Adding a center turn lane (at the south end of the project)
- Adding sidewalks on one side of the road and a multi-use path on the other
- Adding a roundabout
- Adding lighting
The amount of lighting the community desired differed, as the residential contingent wanted less than the business contingent. So, the team installed lighting that adapts to the traffic in the area.
On the South McGregor Avenue project, communication is a top priority because the road is closed to through traffic throughout the construction period. The road is only open to residents whose homes are on South McGregor Avenue, emergency services, and other service providers. Bicyclists are not permitted to ride near the construction site, and even pedestrians are strongly discouraged from walking near it.
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Sharing information on the project is the job of the city’s Communications Department. “We communicate routine information to the residents via text, and our staff also goes door-to-door with handouts explaining the current expectations,” Deputy Director of Communications Jason Johnson said. “We’ve also had one-on-one meetings with HOAs because we wanted them to know well in advance what’s going to be happening and for them [to] be able to reach out with questions.”
Johnson said members of the city’s staff have also had community meetings and maintain a website with up-to-date information related to the project. The website includes answers to questions residents and area businesses may have, such as:
- Will there be a lapse in utilities, like water, power, or internet?
- Will I still receive my mail and packages?
- Can I drive down South McGregor Avenue during this time?
The communications team is also focused on keeping area businesses happy with the project. One way they have done this is to ensure that an entrance and exit are available to each business.
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“We try to say yes to interviews as often as we can,” Johnson said, since it helps remind people that work is being done. It is also another opportunity to emphasize that the road is closed, but businesses are open.
A quick look at the job site may lead people to think work has been halted. That is because work is happening underground and is not visible to passersby. The project is being done in phases, and utility work occurred during the first phase.
Whether it is the need to move them or the requirement to maintain function (no service disruptions), utilities can be a challenge for construction projects. On the South McGregor Avenue project, the team had to deal with eight utilities, including those above and below ground.
A 75-year-old 22-inch-wide gas line runs right down the middle of the project area. The area utilities are vintage 1950s, so they are sensitive. Overhead utilities — power and multiple communication lines — required relocation on the east side of the project.
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“There was no way to move the gas main without closing the roadway to through traffic, but we had to maintain access for residents within the corridor,” Amberger said. Closing the roadway allowed for the required excavation needed for relocation of the gas line to be completed safely.
Eslava Creek adds another wrinkle to the project. The small waterway is at the south end of the project at the bottom of a hill. In fact, much of the project is on a hill, and erosion is an issue.
“Rain events in this area can be ferocious, and the storms can lead to erosion,” Amberger said. The weather events also make it especially important that emergency services have access to all areas. Emergency vehicle transportation is one of the primary reasons the team is adding a center turn lane.
Another issue that the team faced at the beginning of the project was material acquisition. This challenge was one that many projects faced due to the supply chain issues that came about due to COVID-19 and the shutdowns. Amberger noted that the situation has righted itself.
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In business for over 70 years, local contractor H.O. Weaver and Sons Inc. has performed work throughout South Alabama and has partnered with local and state governments multiple times. The company self-performs many services including drainage installation, which was useful for the South McGregor Avenue project. The contractor has phased the construction to allow the south section (commercial area) of the project to remain open during construction.
“H.O. Weaver has executed the project well, made adjustments as needed, and hit the marks that we established,” Amberger said. “They have staying and execution power to take on an effort like this and get it done, so I was glad they bid.” He noted that having strong local connections also added motivation.
The total cost of the project is $25 million, with $16.5 million dedicated to construction work. The project is receiving financing via the traditional 80-20 split between the federal and local funds. The local funds were provided by the city and county. Currently, the project is on budget, which Amberger attributes to the design requiring minimal changes.
Construction on the project began in spring 2023, while utility work started a few months earlier. The team anticipates completing the project in December 2025, as scheduled.
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“The decision to shut down the street while work is taking place was driven by safety for everyone involved, including the construction team and area residents,” Amberger said. The decision also, however, helped the project move forward more quickly.
When the project is completed, area residents, businesses, and others who use South McGregor Avenue will have a more efficient road. Emergency vehicles will be able to pass through as needed, pedestrians/bicyclists will have new features, and there will be improved access to local businesses.
- Owner: City of Mobile, Alabama
- Partners: Alabama Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
- General Contractor: H.O. Weaver and Sons Inc.
- Designer: Neel-Schaffer, Jackson, Michigan
- Engineer: Thompson Engineering, Inc., Mobile, Alabama
