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Birmingham Infrastructure Projects Target Resident Connectivity and Daily Travel Needs
Approved city spending and construction starts address drainage, sidewalks and highway links that affect neighborhoods divided by major roads.
How we reported this
Birmingham approved a $31.8 million surplus plan in March 2026 that allocates $5 million for Messer Airport Highway drainage work, $2 million for sidewalk repairs and $1 million for a citywide stormwater master plan.
Surplus Plan Addresses Local Drainage and Walkability
The March 2026 plan directs money to specific street and stormwater projects that residents encounter during heavy rain and daily walks. Messer Airport Highway drainage improvements target flooding along that corridor while the sidewalk allocation covers repairs across multiple neighborhoods. The stormwater master plan provides a framework for future citywide work.
Northern Beltline Construction Begins on First Segment
Construction has started on the first phase of the Birmingham Northern Beltline, future I-422, a $64.7 million two-mile segment scheduled for completion by late 2026. The segment forms part of a planned 52-mile loop around the city that is intended to reduce pressure on existing highways.
I-65 Widening and 4th Avenue Road Changes Advance
The I-65 widening project between Alabaster and Calera in Shelby County is a $143 million effort expected to finish in spring 2028 and add a third lane in each direction. Separately, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $15 million to convert Birmingham's Historic 4th Avenue Business District from one-way to two-way traffic, aiming to reconnect areas divided by Interstate 65.
Additional Bond-Funded Work Remains in Early Stages
A separate $14 million capital projects update funded by bond refinancing covers street and storm drainage improvements. Many of these projects are still in design or right-of-way acquisition phases rather than ready for immediate construction.
These efforts collectively focus on practical changes to roads, sidewalks and drainage that residents use every day. The next steps depend on continued design work, right-of-way processes and scheduled construction timelines already set for each project.