U.S. Senator Katie Britt joined local, state and regional leaders, as well as many supportive first responders on Wednesday at the site of the Birmingham Northern Beltline to review progress on the expressway’s construction.

“The Birmingham Northern Beltline is a crucial project not just for local communities but for our state and for the entire region,” Sen. Britt (R-Montgomery) said.

“This is exactly the kind of work I came and asked you all to let me do in Washington, D.C. It’s also how I believe that federal transportation and infrastructure dollars should be spent – strategically and in a way that drives growth for local communities.”

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The first segment of the Northern Beltline will complete the connection between State Routes 75 and 79 in Pinson and is expected to open to traffic in 2026. Future segments will connect the first segment to I-65 near Gardendale and I-59 north of Trussville.

Once completed, the Northern Beltline will be a 52-mile interstate – Interstate 422 – extending from I-59 in northeast Jefferson County to the I-459 interchange near Bessemer. This “northern loop” will help foster economic development, divert traffic around Birmingham and provide first responders with quicker access to communities.

Fultondale Fire Chief Justin McKenzie said the Birmingham Northern Beltline will be a big help during emergencies.

“It’s going to boost our economy, create jobs and strengthen our infrastructure. But I tell you, speaking as a first responder and as fire chief, what excites me most about the Northern Beltline is not just what it will do for our economy but what it will do for public safety. It will save lives,” McKenzie said.

RELATED: First responders advocate for quick completion of Northern Beltline project

Britt said saving lives was key to her advocacy for the project in her role role on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

“Men and women leave the safety of their home every single day to ensure that we can return to ours…just the progress in this area will take a first responder — a trip that would take them 15 minutes to get to someone in need — could be shortened to five,” Britt said.

“Y’all, that could be the difference in life and death.”

Britt and U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), along with Alabama’s congressional delegation, secured $525 million in federal funding, which will complete the first 10-mile segment of the Northern Beltline that will connect State Route 75 near Palmerdale to U.S. Highway 31 near Gardendale.

While federal funds have been instrumental, the state of Alabama has not committed matching funds for the Northern Beltline. This reliance on federal appropriations has led to intermittent progress, with construction advancing primarily when earmarked federal funds are available.

A report by the Appalachian Regional Commission said the Northern Beltline “can help reduce isolation for parts of Northern Jefferson County, as well as reduce regional road congestion and enable economic growth.”

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In May of 2024, the bid to construct this phase of the project was awarded to McInnis Construction of Summerdale. This initial connection, spanning nearly two miles and including bridges, is expected to be completed in late 2026.

“From Montgomery to Washington, DC, Alabama’s elected leaders have continued to advocate for historic investments in our state’s infrastructure,” Clay McInnis, Director of Safety and Workforce Development at McInnis Construction said. 

“Our company is honored to play a role in phase one of the Northern Beltline. The progress on display today would not be possible without years of local support from those who believe in the economic promise of this project.”