Birmingham Northern Beltline opens first segment after delays
Alabama opened the first Birmingham Northern Beltline segment, launching a long-delayed project backed by federal funding and congressional support.
The first segment of the Birmingham Northern Beltline project has opened, Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday.
The Alabama Department of Transportation unveiled the new roadway between State Route 79 and State Route 75 in northeast Jefferson County. The 1.88-mile segment begins a planned 52-mile highway that will connect Interstate 459 in Bessemer to Interstate 59 in northeast Jefferson County.
Alabama’s congressional delegation has played a central role in securing federal funding for the Birmingham Northern Beltline, a project planned for decades but repeatedly delayed by funding shortages.
Former United States Representative Spencer Bachus and former United States Senator Richard Shelby helped establish a federal funding path for the project through the Appalachian Development Highway System, allowing it to compete for federal funding designated for the multistate Appalachian highway network.
United States Representative Gary Palmer, R-Alabama, whose district includes much of the project, and United States Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, have continued advocating for the Beltline and its federal funding.
“This is a landmark moment for the Northern Beltline, and I look forward to supporting its continued momentum. Alabamians across our state will feel the benefits of this highway through shorter commutes, safer roads, and the economic growth that comes when we invest in the infrastructure our communities need. I’ll keep working to see this project through to completion, because Alabama deserves nothing less,” Britt said.
Recently, Alabama’s congressional delegation helped secure roughly $525 million in federal funding for the first 10-mile segment of the roadway. Of that funding, $369 million comes through the Appalachian Development Highway System, while approximately $150 million comes directly from the United States Department of Transportation.
“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,” Ivey said.
With the first phase now underway, attention is turning to the remaining portions of the Northern Beltline and when construction could begin on those sections. ALDOT said it is continuing work to move the rest of the project forward, including awarding contracts for multiple phases in 2027.
“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,” ALDOT East Central Region Engineer DeJarvis Leonard said.
The first section connects the Palmerdale and Bradford communities. Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight said the roughly 2-mile segment is an important first step.
“Although it has taken longer than anticipated, I applaud the continued commitment of the Coalition for Regional Transportation (CRT) and their hard work in staying the course to reach this milestone,” Knight said.
Knight said the next section is expected to connect the Northern Beltline to the Interstate 65 corridor in 2030.
The roadway is also expected to extend into Blount County. Blount County Commission Chairman Bradley Harvey pointed to potential effects on economic development, workforce access and emergency response.
“The Birmingham Northern Beltline will serve Blount County, positively impacting everything from economic development to workforce access and emergency response,” Harvey said. “We are thankful for the progress being made and will continue to support efforts to accelerate construction.”
