100 Years of Alabama Roads

ALDOT 100+ Years ALDOT Mission Statement Circa 1950 To provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound intermodal transportation system for all users, especially the taxpayers of Alabama. To also facilitate economic and social development and prosperity through the efficient movement of people and goods and to facilitate intermodal connections within Alabama. ALDOT must also demand excellence in transportation and be involved in promoting adequate funding to promote and maintain Alabama's transportation infrastructure. Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Early Travel Methods Meadows Covered Bridge Lee County 1902 Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Florence RR Bridge 1880 Colbert Shoal Lift Lock TN River 1900 Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Early road building In Winston County, using mules to drag the road for a smoother surface. Official Car Bankhead National Highway This picture highlights the need for a Highway Commission to help standardize safe designs. Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Lowndes Co. Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Dekalb Co. ALDOT How We Began •In 1911, the State Highway Commission was created under Governor Emmet O’Neal’s Administration (1911-1915). The Commission was organized along with an Oyster Commission and was initially housed in the cloak room of the Senate Chamber in the Alabama State Capitol. Governor Emmet O’Neal Oyster Commission abolished 1920 •The State Highway Commission consisted of Five Commission Members •Robert E. Spragins, Chairman, of Huntsville •John Craft of Mobile, who later became Chairman of the 2nd Commission • V. B. Atkins of Selma •G.N. Mitcham, Professor of Civil Engineering at Auburn University •Eugene A. Smith, State Geologist at the University of Alabama Three Regular Employees •W.S. Keller, State Highway Engineer, with experience at the County Engineer level •Robert P. Boyd, Assistant State Highway Engineer, with experience at the County Engineer level •C.L. Rabb, Clerk W. S. Keller Federal Involvement The Beginning of Our 80% Brotherhood .When AASHO was formed in Atlanta, GA in 1914, the three “regular” Highway Commission employees attended. Renamed to AASHTO in 1973 .On July 11, 1916, Federal legislation established “Federal-Aid” to states. oSenator John Hollis Bankhead of Alabama was instrumental in getting this legislation passed. John Hollis Bankhead oIt created a $200 million fund to provide states with matching funds for highway construction. .When the first Federal Aid of $10,000 was allotted to Alabama in 1917, the State Highway Commission allowed the counties to match because there were no “state” funds as yet. Factors Affecting Roads During Early 1900s .Alabama topography Elba AL .Maintenance problems .Primitive equipment .Serious flood damage, especially in Elba and Geneva in 1929 Courtesy of NWS .The Great Depression 1929-39 1928 in Alabama Cars -233,355 Buses - 1390 Trucks – 34,467 Motorcycles - 611 Hearses - 372 Cover Cover First Annual Report 106th Annual Report of the of the State Highway Alabama Department of Transportation Commission 2017 1912 Required by Code of Alabama 23-1-35 Early road construction in Birmingham used mules and gas steamrollers with the bituminous macadam road penetration method. Seen here: Rolling in the final coat of screenings. This view also shows the heating tank for the bituminous binder and the employment of convict labor. Asphalt and Rock Mixture patented in 1910 by Warren First gasoline fee charged in 1921 Brothers later The “State System” of roads was established in 1922 became APAC 1927 Alabama State Highway Department Created The Alabama Highway Code restructured the department again. .Three-man commission .Bond Commission .Position of Highway Director Created .Commission members have Police powers .Provisions for expenditure of funds .Four (4) Divisions created .Building constructed for Highway Department and Public Safety and used until a new building was built in 1964 .Signs and markers on roadways authorized The Department Has Had A lot of Missions • Traffic Division of State Highway Department Organized in 1932 – 4 Motor-cycle Officers • 1935 – Total of 10 Officers • 1935 Drivers License Act Formed Separate Department of Highway Patrol ALDOT Annual Report Roadwork in the 1930s Macadam Road Jefferson Co. Colbert Co. Walker Co. Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History 1938 AL Highway Department Planted 300,000 Kudzu Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and Plants on Roadsides History ALDOT Annual Report 1939: Reorganization of the State Highway Department This reorganization was the result of a new law called the Merit System law, which was established for fair hiring practices, among other reasons. .Highway Director .Secretary to the Director .Six cabinet members to head branches of operations called Bureaus .New positions created: oConstruction Engineer oSurvey and Plans oAuditor oEquipment Superintendent oMaintenance Engineer Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History World War II .More than 600 employees were taken into service. As documented to date in 1943, 12 employees had been killed in war. .Federal Aid Funds Suspended .Defense Highway Act of 1941 . Access roads to military institutions became ALDOT Annual Report priority, and all were paid for by the Federal Government .Works Project Administration (WPA) came to a close in 1942. .Farm to Market Road Act was enacted locally in 1943. ALDOT Annual Report Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History ALDOT Annual Report Bankhead Tunnel in Mobile was named for John Hollis Bankhead The tunnel opened to traffic on February 20, 1941 Cost $4 Million Length 3,389 feet Toll from 1941-1970s Toll cost - $0.25 Two Movies Close Encounters Stone Cold Reported 75,000 people walked through tunnel on February 20, 1941 A total of 634 State Naming of Highways Roadways and •“Bankhead Highway” extends 3000 Bridges have been miles from Washington, D.C. through named since 1927 Bankhead’s hometown of Jasper, AL and on to San Diego, CA. Named in Alabama August 1, 1931 – First All weather Highway in US •“Jackson Highway” runs from Tennessee to Florence, AL to Russellville, AL and on into Mississippi •“Blue Star Highway” US 84 in Alabama •Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway I-65 from Birmingham to Decatur Courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History 1948 to 1955: Post World War II .There was a new direction in construction, including improved road surfacing, ditches, rights- of-way, and a large number of bridges. .1948 Crushed Shells 1st used for aggregate .In 1949, per a state legislative statute, the Department was required to assume the maintenance of state highways through municipalities. .In 1951, the Captive County System was established by the Legislature. ALDOT Annual Report AL 22 Coosa River Ferry ALDOT Annual Report Origins of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways The picture can't be displayed. Dwight D. Eisenhower Total Interstate US – 46,876 mi The basis of the Interstate System was the Federal Highway Act of 1956. The Act authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of Interstate Highways and provided a 90/10 match. Alabama’s Interstate System Wallace Tunnels .The most dramatic feature was the I-10 Mobile River Tunnel. oLargest contract to date at $47.5 million oTook 3.5 years to build oOpened in 1973 after rare snow storm oOnly Tunnel on I-10 o3000 feet long – 40 foot clearance Only 14 Tunnels on Interstate System in US The Numbers I-65 North of Birmingham 1959 •First interstate section to go to construction in Alabama (1957) was I-65 from Kimberly to Cullman (28 miles). •Total of 1003 miles of Interstate •Completed Approximately1994 Courtesy of Alabama •808 Contracts Department of Archives and History •Total Cost - $2,162,955,827 •Auxiliary Interstate Routes • Opened 1980 • Walter K Wilson Sr Miles – 65.9 Bridge • Main Span 800 ft • Clearance 125 ft • Carries I-65 Courtesy Eric Christy In 1957, the Electronic Computer Section was organized making Alabama one of the nation’s first Transportation Departments to use computers. Computer capability changed dramatically over the years! Apple IIe IBM 360 1983 Model 40 And Two Floppy 1969 Drives And Today – ALDOT Computer Services WOW!! Dell Blade Center Location of 600 Virtual Servers Present Computing Power 23+ Petabytes = 23,000 terabytes Courtesy of Tom Trammell The Metric Department • July 25, 1991 President George Bush signs order to change US from SI International Standard Units to Metric • Department Adopts Target Date for Conversion of September 30, 1993 • Department creates Metric Conversion Committee • Committee headed by Randall Estes trains employees, contractors, consultants • Policies are rewritten, Specifications Changed and process to design and build projects in Metric Began • Process Completed before Deadline • October 1993 Congress Changes law to a may Condition • Director Mac Roberts orders that Department end Metric Conversion in February 1994 In 1993, the Alabama Highway Department was renamed The Alabama Department of Transportation to better represent the broadened focus of today’s transportation network. Building Constructed 1983 Other ALDOT Things • Wildflower Program – 1987 - 2008 • Johnny Reynolds vs ALDOT 1985 - 2006 • State Board of Adjustment – 1935 • Two Way Radio System – 1959 • Convict Camps 1927-1976 • Position of Chief Engineer Created 1959 • 245 State Routes in Alabama • ALDOT owns and operates St. Elmo Airport in Mobile County and leases two airports in Lawrence Co for agricultural use Courtesy of Howard Peavey • Licenses all landing areas i.e airports • Bridge Inspection started 1969 • Legal Division 1975 • 1954 to 1963 Work Week 5 ½ days (1/2 day on Saturday) • Y2K The Big Shutdown – 00 Year Problem • Revolving Vehicle Account • Herbicide Program Began 1975 • Design Bureau CADD Section 1984-85 And Then - 2014 ALDOT Changes Divisions to Regions .Parts of the 1st and 2nd Divisions became the North Region. .Parts of the 5th, 2nd and 8th Divisions became the West Central Region.

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