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County pushes Alabama Power for safer plan after proposal would shut Sy Road repeatedly
Summary
St. Clair County commissioners pressed Alabama Power for alternatives after the utility’s plan for 40 transmission poles on Sy Road could close a busy county route for multiple six‑hour periods. Commissioners cited emergency‑access risks and asked for detours, pavement‑repair commitments and indemnities.
St. Clair County commissioners on [work‑session date] pressed Alabama Power officials to rework a plan to set dozens of large transmission poles along Sy Road after staff said the company’s current sequencing would shut the roadway for hours at a time.
Commissioners and county engineers said company diagrams show about 40 pole sites and at least 21 locations where work would require closing the road for up to six hours per day to set a heavy crane and outriggers. “You’re looking at 21 days at least that they’re going to have that road shut down for six hours a day basically,” a commissioner said during the work session.
County staff warned that the closures would affect school traffic and emergency response, and asked Alabama Power to prepare alternate staging, weekend work windows, a detour plan and written commitments to relocate or repair county pavement after crane operations. County engineers also suggested the utility consider temporary pads on private property or additional easements so the crane outrigger loads would not rest on the traveled way.
Commissioners said they will instruct engineering staff to coordinate with Alabama Power engineers and district commissioners and consider asking for an indemnity or non‑indemnity agreement that would make the utility responsible if a road closure contributed to an emergency outcome. “If there’s an emergency and it’s an extra 30 minutes for first responders … they need to sign something where they’re going to take all responsibility,” one commissioner said.
Staff noted the company had submitted right‑of‑way permit materials in March but that discussions about road closures and detours were not communicated early in the project schedule. Commissioners asked staff to set an immediate meeting with the utility and include the district commissioner, county engineer and emergency‑services officials. The county also asked for firm detour routing and for Alabama Power to show examples of similar projects where at least one lane remained open.
Next steps: county staff will work with Alabama Power engineers to identify alternative construction methods, evaluate detour options and seek written assurances on traffic management and pavement restoration prior to any formal county approval or consent.
