After more than 40 years of work, the first stretch of the Birmingham Northern Beltline is open to drivers.
The 1.88-mile section connects Bradford and Palmerdale in northeast Jefferson County. The Alabama Department of Transportation opened the road between State Routes 79 and 75 on Tuesday morning, marking the first step toward a planned 52-mile highway.
“The completion of the first phase of the Northern Beltline is a watershed moment in this transformational project critical to future economic development in Jefferson and surrounding counties,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “I commend the tremendous foundational work performed by former Senator Richard Shelby, former Congressman Spencer Bachus, our current congressional delegation and the Trump Administration in making this historic day possible.”
The completed beltline is planned to run from I-459 in Bessemer to I-59 in northeast Jefferson County. ALDOT identifies the first section as part of the future I-422.
The section that opened Tuesday was finished ahead of schedule and below projected cost, according to the governor’s office. ALDOT had projected a fall 2026 completion.
ALDOT is now working on the next eight miles west to U.S. 31 in Gardendale. The governor’s office says the department plans to award contracts for multiple phases in 2027.
“This is a monumental step forward for a dream birthed over 40 years ago to create a new connection between southwest and northeast Jefferson County,” ALDOT East Central Region Engineer DeJarvis Leonard said. “ALDOT is excited about this milestone and is diligently working to ensure construction begins on the remaining legs of this transformative project in a timely manner.”
For the Palmerdale Fire Department, the new section offers a more direct route across its district.
“Opening this section of the Northern Beltline creates a more direct connection between Bradford and Palmerdale – the two bookends of our 52-square-mile fire district – and will help our crews respond to emergencies faster and get patients to the hospital sooner,” said Chief Taylor Hancock Palmerdale Fire Department. “We are grateful for this investment in northern Jefferson County, which strengthens public safety today while preparing our communities for the growth ahead.”
A University of Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research study projecting that, once the full beltline is complete, it could generate up to $1.9 billion a year in statewide economic output and support more than 11,700 jobs annually.
For Bradford and Palmerdale, the opening means a more direct route today. The planned extension toward Gardendale would bring the region closer to the larger connection its leaders have sought for decades.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
