Yellowhammer Times

Travelers familiar with Alabama's I-65 often encounter heavy traffic, especially in Shelby County. The area sees nearly 100,000 vehicles daily, with summer vacationers heading to the state's beaches adding to the congestion. Tim Wallace, Administrator of the Calera District for the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), remarked on the frequent traffic jams caused by accidents: "We get a lot of traffic in the summertime. It is unreal. And there’s a wreck, within ten minutes of the wreck, the interstate is backed up for miles."

To address these issues, ALDOT is overseeing a $150 million project to widen I-65 from Alabaster to Calera by adding a third lane and replacing outdated bridges. Wallace believes this will not only increase capacity but also improve response times to accidents: "That is going to make a huge difference. Any time there was a wreck on the interstate, it shut everything down."

Wallace joined ALDOT in 1993 after over ten years in the U.S. Navy. He credits his naval experience with preparing him for managing the unpredictable challenges of his district: "It’s always changing. Those phone calls, the wreck, whatever happens, the weather. Those things always shift that. I was already used to that."

The Calera District team is noted for its adaptability and resilience in overcoming challenges. Wallace praised Maintenance Superintendent T.J. Horton for his ability to effectively manage resources: "He’s able to mix and match what we’ve got to make it a good, effective crew." Despite facing various challenges like ice storms or maintenance requests, Wallace emphasized their commitment: "We do make a difference, and I think we keep our roads pretty safe."

Information from this article can be found here.