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Council delays vote on Valleydale Road ALDOT agreement after members press for funding plan
Summary
The council continued a supplemental agreement with ALDOT that authorizes utility relocations and two construction phases for Valleydale Road widening after members asked for a clearer funding schedule for the city's 20% match, which is estimated at several million dollars per phase.
Hoover — The Hoover City Council on March 3 continued a resolution that would authorize the mayor to sign a supplemental agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for utility relocations and construction of two phases of the Valleydale Road widening project, after councilors pressed staff for a clearer plan to fund the city’s share.
City staff described the agreement as covering relocation of utilities for two construction phases: utility relocation work is estimated at $10 million (an 80% federal / 20% city split), with staff estimating the city’s utility-relocation share at about $2 million. Staff said phase 1 construction is estimated at $25 million (city match about $4.3 million) and phase 2 at $20 million (city match about $4.0 million). Staff said ALDOT must have the signed agreement for utility relocations to continue and noted Alabama Power has begun non‑reimbursable utility work in front of Spain Park.
Why it matters: the Valleydale project has been on planning records for decades and would add lanes and sidewalks on key segments; it carries multi‑million-dollar city matches and multi‑year construction schedules that affect future capital budgeting.
Council debate and action: several council members expressed concern about agreeing to the ALDOT contract before the city identifies and programs the annual funding to meet its future 20% match. One council member asked if the council could program small annual allocations from gas-tax receipts to accrue the needed amounts; staff responded that the gas-tax fund currently supports paving and that roughly $1 million per year could be set aside without derailing repaving plans. The council then moved to continue the item to the next meeting so staff and councilors could develop a schedule for programming the city’s share; the motion to continue carried.
Staff timeline: staff said utility relocation work could take up to three years and suggested construction on phase 1 could begin by 2028, with phase completion timelines spanning multiple years. Staff also said discussions are continuing with Shelby County about increasing that county’s prior contribution to reduce the city’s future obligation.
Ending: the item was continued to a future agenda for further fiscal planning and scheduling.
