Industrial Access Road Project Makes Headway

In an effort to replace temporary access to the new International Diesel Big Bore facility on I-565 immediately east of the airport interchange as well as help enhance traffic flow at the interchange of James Record Road and Glenn Hearn Boulevard, the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority has initiated an Industrial Access Road project. The project consists of a three-lane industrial access road and will connect to a modified intersection of Glenn Hearn Boulevard and James Record Road to minimize ground-level crossing traffic.

 “The number of tenants within the Jetplex Industrial Park continues to grow as well as the number of passengers utilizing the airport,” stated Rick Tucker, Executive Director, Huntsville International Airport. “Combine that with the increase in vehicles using the airport I-565 interchange to access Redstone Arsenal, and it is without question that this
economic development project was an absolute necessity.”

The project – with an estimated cost exceeding $10 million – encompasses three phases. Phase one, which should be completed in April, provides site grading, drainage, and gravel base for the access road and connecting loops. During phase one, the County Commission has played a pivotal role. Approximately 70,000 cubic yards of dirt was acquired from acreage within the Jetplex Industrial Park where development was set to begin, and the County Engineering department was instrumental in using its equipment to move and stockpile the dirt in addition to cutting the initial road formation.

Phase two will complete paving of the three-lane roadway and connecting loops on the west and east sides of Glenn Hearn Boulevard. In addition to paving, the second phase of the project will involve the widening of the Glenn Hearn Boulevard outbound bridge over the new industrial access road as well as signage. The loops will enable inbound traffic on Glenn Hearn Boulevard to travel east on James Record Road by crossing under Glenn Hearn Boulevard traffic, thereby eliminating an at-grade crossing. A number of other tenants will be able to utilize the new industrial access road – including International Diesel, LG Electronics, Raytheon, Turner Universal, Perez Services, and Parfums de Couer, Ltd. – which accounts for more than 1,500 employees.

The third and final phase of the project will involve the Airport Authority working with the city of Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal to widen and upgrade portions of James Record Road and Martin Road from Laracy Drive to Redstone Arsenal Gate 7 at Zierdt Road to accommodate the anticipated growth from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) initiative.