Portion of Helton to close today

FLORENCE -- Beginning today, drivers who use Helton Drive to access Florence Boulevard should find alternate routes to get to their destinations.

Kerry Blanton, project superintendent for Wright Brothers Construction, said Helton Drive between Hermitage Drive and Florence Boulevard will close today.

Westbound Florence Boulevard traffic will be routed onto newly built westbound lanes.

"This will allow us to redo the existing westbound lane, the access road and Helton Drive," Blanton said.

In addition, Blanton said contractors must cut across the entire width of Helton Drive to install new drainage culverts.

Access to Helton Drive was already limited to the westbound lanes of Florence Boulevard.

Blanton said drivers can still access the few businesses that remain on Helton Drive by using Lawrence Avenue.

Lawrence Avenue connects to Helton Drive near Vintage Blues.

Tina May, a co-owner of the clothing store, was concerned about losing access to the business.

"They told us at no time could we be totally blocked," May said, referring to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Still, losing access to Florence Boulevard has already affected business, May said.

Blanton said that eventually there will be an access road running from Tune Avenue in front of a row of businesses on Florence Boulevard and Helton Drive.

The access road will then connect to Lawrence Avenue.

"They won't have the direct access they did have," said Kevin Evers, an assistant DOT construction engineer. "Once they get traffic shifted over, the contractors will build the service road."

Victor Ashby knew the situation on Helton Drive when he located American Pawn and Jewelry there.

Ashby said he thinks customers will see his sign -- they just might have trouble locating his store from Florence Boulevard.

"You can't hide a pawn shop," he said.

Blanton said work at the intersection of Tune Avenue and Florence Boulevard should be completed in about three weeks.

That will allow drivers to take Tune Avenue to Cullman Street and finally Lawrence Avenue to get to the Helton Drive businesses.

Blanton said the entire project is supposed to be completed by October 2008.

"We are about three months ahead of schedule," he said.

If the weather continues to be dry, Blanton said, parts of the project could be open by the end of the year.

He said the Charlston, Tenn.-based contractor will work to complete the new road linking Helton Drive to Florence Boulevard and the ramps linking Helton Drive to Florence Boulevard.

He said workers will concentrate on completing that part of the project and completing the Railroad Avenue overpass, which is being widened to six lanes.

There will also be a large amount of paving to be done, Blanton said.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.