Target date for joint UNA, Florence project is Aug. 27

FLORENCE — Officials said Thursday they expect a city project to reduce a section of Pine Street from four lanes to three to be completed before the University of North Alabama’s first home football game at the new Bank Independent Stadium.

City Engineer Todd Sullivan said city and UNA officials are coordinating so the paving, stadium and LaGrange Hall work do not get in each other’s way. The stadium is on the west side of Pine Street and LaGrange is on the east side.

The area to be threelaned is from Irvine Avenue to West Mattielou Street.

“As of now, we should have the road paved and all work done by Aug. 27,” Sullivan said.

UNA’s first home game at the stadium is Sept. 19.

The city council in April approved a $754,786.75 contract with Rogers Group Inc. for the work.

The project calls for having a northbound lane, southbound lane and middle turning lane. That would replace the existing four lanes.

Sullivan said the stadium project requires bringing in dump trucks containing gravel as part of the base work for the field before turf work begins.

“As soon as the last gravel is brought in for the turf, that’s when Rogers Group will start milling Pine Street,” he said. “We anticipate July 13 to be the day for the milling to start. We hope to have it wrapped up by that Aug. 27 date.”

That is 23 days before the game and allows for issues such as rainy days.

“That gives us some leeway,” Sullivan said.

Michelle Eubanks, executive director for university media and public relations, said Thursday the stadium and LaGrange projects remain on schedule.

Approximately 12,000 vehicles pass through that Pine Street corridor per day, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

UNA, city and ALDOT officials are working on a $952,510 sidewalk project along Pine Street stretches from Irvine to Cumberland streets. It includes pedestrian and bicycle access.

The project involves 4,240 linear feet of sidewalks, which will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

Officials said during a March 31 Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments meeting the target date for the project has been moved to mid-November while officials await final approval for plans.

Sullivan said he believes ALDOT officials are being cautious in that projection and it could be earlier, but city and UNA officials would have to get together and make a decision when to start the project if it is approved earlier.

“Once we get approval for it we will look at the schedule and see where we are and determine the best approach to be able to do construction,” he said.

UNA and Florence received a $762,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant for the project. That covers 80% of the project’s cost.

The city and UNA will provide the remaining 20% with each entity paying approximately $95,251, officials said.