McGregor Ave. slated for improvements

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A traffic hot spot got some attention at the Mobile City Council meeting Tuesday. The area often times puts a snag in driver’s plans.

"I have to plan for forty-five minutes to get to Providence Hospital,” said one driver.

McGregor Avenue, between Dauphin Street and Airport Boulevard, is slated for improvements in the coming years and the planning is well underway.

“The concern is getting traffic from McGregor onto Airport Boulevard in a more efficient manner, right now it is a very sharp corner, “ said city engineer Nick Amberger

Councilman Reggie Copeland suggested adding a right turn lane from McGregor onto Airport Boulevard to keep the traffic from building up.

Construction is estimated to begin in 2015. But January, 15, city council meeting members extended their agreement with the state to continue working on the details of the  plan.

"All the ducks linking up in a row, if you will,  for the project to come to fruition,” said Amberger.

Although there is no official word about how much the project will cost, Amberger said federal dollars, routed through the Alabama Department of Transportation, will reimburse the city 80 percent of the cost, and the city will pay for the remaining 20 percent.

City leaders said public hearings will be held so people can voice their opinion about the future plans.