Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced the opening of the first segment of the new Birmingham Northern Beltline (SR-959), with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) officially opening the roadway between SR-79 and SR-75 in northeast Jefferson County to traffic this morning.
The 1.88-mile section is the first leg of the future 52-mile I-422. The overall Northern Beltline will ultimately span from I-459 in Bessemer to I-59 in northeast Jefferson County.
"The completion of the first phase of the Northern Beltline is a watershed moment in this transformational project critical to future economic development in Jefferson and surrounding counties," said Governor Ivey. "I commend the tremendous foundational work performed by former Senator Richard Shelby, former Congressman Spencer Bachus, our current congressional delegation and the Trump Administration in making this historic day possible."
This initial phase between the Bradford and Palmerdale communities was completed early and under projected cost estimates. ALDOT is now working to continue the momentum with construction on the Northern Beltline's next eight miles west to US-31 in Gardendale. Current plans include awarding contracts on multiple phases in 2027.
"This is a monumental step forward for a dream birthed over 40 years ago to create a new connection between southwest and northeast Jefferson County," said ALDOT East Central Region Engineer DeJarvis Leonard. "ALDOT is excited about this milestone and is diligently working to ensure construction begins on the remaining legs of this transformative project in a timely manner."
A study by the University of Alabama's Center for Business and Economic Research showed that the Northern Beltline is expected to generate up to $1.9 billion annually in statewide economic output and support over 11,700 jobs each year once complete. It is designed to enhance cross-region accessibility and promote significant economic development along the corridor.
"This has been an exciting year for the Jefferson County region, with the new U.S. Coast Guard facility and Fannie Mae relocating from San Francisco to Birmingham," said Senator Tommy Tuberville. "The Northern Beltline will help surrounding communities reap the economic benefits of these developments, and I look forward to its completion."
Senator Katie Britt said today's announcement is the result of the tireless work of so many state and local leaders, adding that Alabamians across the state will feel the benefits of the highway through shorter commutes, safer roads and economic growth.
Congressman Gary Palmer said the opening is an important milestone for Jefferson County and the entire Birmingham region, and that the Northern Beltline will strengthen connectivity, support economic growth and provide new opportunities for the communities it serves.
District 4 Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight said the two-mile section is beneficial in connecting the Palmerdale and Bradford communities, and that adding the next section connecting to the I-65 corridor in 2030 will have a huge impact on the northeastern portion of Jefferson County.
Blount County Commission Chairman Bradley Harvey said the Northern Beltline will serve Blount County, positively impacting everything from economic development to workforce access and emergency response.
Janet Kavinoky, Chair of the Coalition for Regional Transportation, thanked Alabama's congressional delegation for securing funding for the Northern Beltline as part of the multi-state Appalachian Development Highway System.
Mayor Stan Hogeland of Gardendale, President of the Jefferson County Mayors Association, said the next step will be connecting this section to Highway 31 in Gardendale, and that first responders could shorten drive times by 20 minutes or more headed to UAB Gardendale.
Chief Taylor Hancock of the Palmerdale Fire Department said opening this section creates a more direct connection between Bradford and Palmerdale, the two bookends of the department's 52-square-mile fire district, helping crews respond to emergencies faster and get patients to the hospital sooner.