By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Huntsville is continuing to invest in safer, more connected travel options for residents with two new greenway expansion projects in south and west Huntsville.
City leaders announced plans this week to add 4 miles of multiuse trails designed for walkers, bikers and scooter riders — further strengthening Huntsville’s growing network of greenways.
The first project includes a 2.4-mile, 12-foot-wide multiuse path along Bailey Cove and Four Mile Post roads. The trail will link neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers and the Sandra Moon Community Complex. It will be ADA-compliant and feature enhanced safety upgrades at the busy Bailey Cove and Blevins Gap intersection, including improved crosswalks, pedestrian signals and traffic-calming measures.
In west Huntsville, Phase II of the Miller Branch Greenway will extend 1.6 miles along Miller Branch Creek, bringing the trail closer to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Once complete, the project will connect to a broader network of parks, preserves and greenways, creating nearly 30 miles of continuous trails in the west Huntsville corridor.
Mayor Tommy Battle emphasized that the projects go beyond recreation.
“These paths connect neighborhoods to schools, jobs, shopping and parks,” Battle said. “They give our residents and visitors safe, multimodal options for how they move throughout our city.”
Both projects are partially funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation. The Bailey Cove path is estimated to cost $1.8 million, with $800,000 from TAP funds. Miller Branch Phase II totals $1 million, with nearly $800,000 from TAP and the remainder funded by the city.
Huntsville currently boasts approximately 130 miles of greenways, bikeways and trails, with more added each year. Construction timelines will be announced after final engineering and coordination with ALDOT.
