Patton Island bridge north approach to be bid in '06

FLORENCE -- Driving from Helton Drive straight onto the Patton Island bridge is getting closer to becoming a reality, state transportation officials say.

A contractor is expected to be chosen next year to complete the Florence approach to the bridge, said Allen Teague, of the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The Patton Island bridge ends at Huntsville Road and is separated by a hill from Helton Drive and Florence Boulevard.

Teague said a project on the scale of completing the northern approach to the bridge likely would take contractors two to three years to complete.

Florence recently approved agreements with the state transportation department for the bridge approach. The city also approved an agreement with the state for an additional lane to be added to Helton Drive between Cox Creek Parkway and Hermitage Drive.

Bill Batson, the city's engineer, said the agreements are mostly to make the city aware that work would soon begin.

Meanwhile, the widening of Wilson Dam Road on the Muscle Shoals side of the bridge is under way, as is construction of the Muscle Shoals approach to the bridge.

Transportation officials say the road widening should be complete in fall 2006 from the bridge to Avalon Avenue.

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., recently secured $12 million in federal money for the Patton Island bridge corridor. The state must match 20 percent of the money.

Todd Twilley can be reached at 740-5728 or todd.twilley@timesdaily.com.