New North-South Route between Mobile Hwy and 9-Mile Road West of I-10 a Possibility

A large mixed-use development planned for NW District 1 has the potential to create a public/private partnership to improve roadways and drainage issues for the entire area

Congestion in the NW portion of District 1 is an issue with which all of us that live here contend on a daily basis.  I have been looking for a way to create another North/South connector road between 9-Mile Road and Mobile Hwy West of  I-10 ever since I have been on the BCC--because due to the growth of this area this is desperately needed.  We looked at a number of roads and routes--yet none of these (Jamesville Lane, 8-Mile Creek) were feasible due to high costs and/or various other factors (wetlands, bridge over 11-Mile creek, no land owned, etc.)  With most of the previously investigated potential routes, the costs for building such a road would have fallen squarely, 100%, on the taxpayers.

Recently, I have been in talks with county staff and a private development company regarding this issue.

Pathstone, a large, mixed use development planned just East of Beulah on 9-Mile Road, has expressed interest in partnering with the county to develop a road through their property connecting to Klondike road--which would help this area by also providing another North-South connector road between 9-Mile road and Mobile Highway, west of I-10.  The benefits to the county and the taxpayers is the fact that under this scenario--the costs are split between the private sector and the county for a portion of this new roadway.  For the developer, this new roadway through provides more access to both their residential and commercial tenants. For residents that have complained to me over and over about the problems on Wilde Lake and Klondike--this sort of a partnership will allow for improvements to these roadways all the way to Pine Forest Road/Exit 7 on the I-10.

Currently, many residents who are opposing a zoning change on Klondike Road south of Wilde Lake have cited deficient roadway infrastructure and insufficient drainage as a major issue that they want


 to see addressed prior to any further growth.  This plan to create additional routes in and out of the area will help address both of these issues.

Road outlined in red above indicates proposed route of roadway through Pathstone development potentially creating a new North South connection between 9-Mile Road and Mobile Hwy West of I-10

So if this moves forward, we can achieve a win-win for all concerned at a lower cost for the taxpayer, while improving existing roadways that are in desperate need of enhancements for all of the residents of this area.  For the project to move forward, staff has suggested a phased approach for the roadways south of 9-Mile Road, as follows.

*Ph 1 Klondike North – Wilde Lake to north end connection including intersection upgrade (66’ r/w) – 0.6 miles - Widen road to min 12’ lane width  with 4’ paved shoulders – drainage issues - $1.8 M const / $180K Design / $180K CEI = $2.2M

*Ph 2 Wilde Lake – Klondike to Pineforest (roughly 60’ r/w) with various jogs and reduction to 50’ r/w in a few locations – 1.0 miles - Widen road to min 12’ lane width  with 4’ paved shoulders - drainage and r/w issues (especially at Pineforest) - $2.175M const / $218K design / $218K CEI / $390K R/W / $400K Pineforest intersection property = $3.4M

*Ph 3 Klondike South – Wilde Lake to southern intersection at Mobile – FDOT has warranted a signal at the Mobile Hwy Intersection – this is about a 1.6 mile stretch (northern half has 66’ r/w / southern half goes from 60’ to 0’ r/w in various locations) – 1.6 miles - Widen road to min 12’ lane width  with 4’ paved shoulders - drainage and r/w issues - $3.48M const / $350K design / $350K CEI / $300K r/w = $4.5M

*Construction costs above estimated based upon approximately $2,175,000 per mile for 12’ lanes 4’ paved shoulders and drainage (this value is a compilation of actual construction costs – Muscogee project / Recent construction estimates – Kingsfield Ext project / Average of each contractors price on the Pricing Agreement / plus 10% contingency). 10% design / 10% CEI. Plus $390K per mile for real estate (Phase 2 and 3).  It is important to note that as of yet, funding for these three phases has not yet been identified/programmed.