Public Session Discusses Potential Crosshaven Improvements

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the city of Vestavia Hills hosted a special presentation to convey the results of a traffic study on Crosshaven Drive, which residents often cite as a source of frustration for its heavy and consistent traffic. The city has been looking for ways to alleviate traffic on the road, and has commissioned studies to find a feasible solution.

The presentation highlighted data collected by Skipper Consulting, which was gathered through traffic counters, video and drive-bys on the road. The company's report showed an average of 11,000 northbound trips and 10,500 southbound trips each day, with an average speed of 31-33 miles per hour over the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. Most of the traffic comes from personal vehicles as opposed to commercial trucks or heavy equipment.

Skipper recommended that all of Crosshaven from Cahaba Heights Road to Overton Road be converted into a three-lane thoroughfare, which would include a center turn lane running the full length, as well as turn lanes leading onto Crosshaven. A traffic light at Bearden Court was also recommended.

Neel-Schaffer Consulting provided a preliminary plan to explore options and costs for the project. The project would be divided into three phases. The Topics VIII project already underway by Jefferson County at the Green Valley intersection would be the first phase, followed by a Northern Phase projected at $2.54 million and a Southern Phase projected at $2.08 million. These phases could be done individually in succession or simultaneously depending on how much money is available.