BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A newly released report is raising concerns about the economic viability and environmental impact of the Northern Beltline, Alabama’s largest and most expensive highway project. The analysis, conducted by a team of economists from the University of North Carolina, questions the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) justifications for the 52-mile highway, citing outdated economic projections and environmental concerns.
The $5 billion project, which has been under consideration for decades, is designed to create a new route north of Birmingham, but the report suggests that the highway will provide little economic benefit to the region. According to the analysis, if the project is completed over the next 60 years as planned, economic and population growth along the corridor will remain low, undermining ALDOT’s projections of substantial economic development.
Critics argue that the project, which was first proposed in the 1960s as a tool for economic development, is an outdated concept. The report points out that the cost per construction job created has soared to $845,453, and any permanent jobs would cost taxpayers $2.3 million each, based on ALDOT’s own studies. Furthermore, the new highway is expected to require additional taxpayer-funded investments, including expanded infrastructure such as sewer systems and first-responder services.
Environmental advocates are also sounding the alarm. The proposed highway route threatens to destroy more than 10 miles of streams and tributaries, including sensitive areas like Turkey Creek, an endangered species habitat. “This is a literal and figurative road to nowhere,” said Sarah Stokes, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). “It’s harmful, unnecessary, and a complete waste of taxpayer money.”
Last week, the SELC, on behalf of Black Warrior Riverkeeper, submitted comments to ALDOT opposing the construction of the Beltline’s eastern section. ALDOT’s current plans involve relocating over 500 residents and businesses to make way for the highway. Environmental reviews of the project, which have not been conducted in 27 years, are also a source of concern, given the significant changes in northern Alabama during that time.
Nelson Brooke, executive director of Black Warrior Riverkeeper, echoed these concerns, arguing that the project promotes a “boom-and-bust” economic model. He criticized the highway for potentially pulling investment away from existing developed areas while causing irreversible damage to environmentally sensitive regions.
Local planning authorities also seem to have deprioritized the project. The Northern Beltline was ranked 36th in importance by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham. Moreover, the project did not make the list of Alabama’s top 50 priority highway projects, as identified by the Business Council of Alabama. Each of those projects could be completed for less than the cost of the Beltline, critics say.
Despite the mounting opposition, ALDOT continues planning the next phases of the Beltline’s construction, even as environmental groups and local residents push for a reevaluation of the project’s necessity and impact.