TRAFFIC
BKI’s interdisciplinary team of engineers and planners work in close collaboration to provide the high-level traffic skills and services required to address the diverse needs of both public and private clients. The firm’s professional staff utilizes numerous software platforms, including Synchro and HCS, to analyze both simple and complex traffic issues.
BKI’s traffic professionals have prepared over 50 Traffic Impact Analyses and numerous Transportation System Management studies ranging from mass event centers to residential traffic calming, traffic signage and signalization, and low-cost physical intersection and corridor upgrades. Additionally, the firm has extensive experience in the preparation of NEPA-driven environmental documents and corridor plans for large-scale highway and bridge expansions.
BKI was tasked with identifying a series of improvements to aid mobility and traffic flow along a 14.7 mile section of Alabama Highway 69 between I-20/59 and the Hale County Line. Over time, traffic conditions on the AL 69 corridor transitioned from a condition of free-flow and unencumbered operations to periods of extensive congestion combined with slow-moving traffic blocking direct property access. Measures employed by ALDOT to address the issues have seen some benefits applied in the vicinity of individual intersections, but this study was the first to look at the corridor in its entirety.
This corridor passes through one of the county’s prime growth areas. Agricultural land along the corridor has transitioned into a collection of residential communities and commercial properties, increasing the number of residents in this portion of the county. Increased population has brought demand for churches, schools, and major recreation facilities. The lack of a fully-developed roadway network in the area required both local and through traffic use the AL 69 corridor. As a result, the corridor transitioned into a primary roadway supporting some of the highest traffic volumes in Tuscaloosa County.
Meetings with local residents, as well as key stakeholders in the business community documented issues and areas of concern for the corridor. The traffic study utilized this information, as well as an extensive review of existing conditions to propose the following general recommendations:
• An upgrade to the existing AL 69 corridor, including limited capacity improvements at intersections combined with a series of specific intersection and access management recommendations within the corridor south of Kauloosa Avenue to Maxwell Loop Road;
• A review of potential off-corridor improvements to complete the primary roadway network in order to improve access and circulation within a broad area extending east and west from AL 69 between 1-20/I-59 and US 82.