Photo by Erin Nelson.
Vehicles travel on Massey Road in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, in June 2022. The Vestavia Hills City Council on Monday, Oct. 23, approved the relocation of utilities to make way for road improvements and a sidewalk addition.
The Vestavia Hills City Council on Monday night gave unanimous approval for the relocation of utility lines on Massey Road, making way for road and stormwater improvements and a sidewalk addition.
The ordinance authorizes Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry to enter into agreements with multiple utility agencies for the project, which will stretch from U.S. 31 to Columbiana Road.
Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes explained that the ordinance solidifies months of work to acquire the rights of way from property owners on Massey Road before work can begin on the improvements in 2024.
Downes said there were four property owners who were not willing to compromise with the city on temporary construction easements or for the purchase of a “very small sliver” of land for the project, so the city elected to condemn the necessary property in order to move the project forward.
Two of the four difficult properties have condemnation hearings scheduled for Nov. 27 and Nov. 29, and the other two hearings will be forthcoming, he said.
"We are set to bid this in March of next year, so we have to move on these utility issues,” Downes said.
The Massey Road project, which has been in the works for at least eight years, will include the installation of a sidewalk, road shoulder stabilization, drainage improvements and resurfacing.
The project is another significant step toward the completion of several quality-of-life initiatives in recent months, Downes said.
"I hope that you're encouraged by the fact that on our last three council meetings, we've had every one of our longstanding projects making progress,” he said.
In the only other new business on the brief council agenda, the council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing Downes to enter into a public/private partnership with the Cahaba Heights Merchants Association to promote economic development in the community. Specifically, the ordinance approves an expenditure of $5,000 to purchase a tent for a 30-day pop-up bar at El Zun Zun Mexican restaurant on Crosshaven Drive in Cahaba Heights.
In other news, Downes announced the city will unveil its new app on Monday, Oct. 30. Downes explained the new app, Vestavia Hills Connect, will be a "one-stop shop" for Vestavia Hills residents to conduct business with the city and will be available for download on the Apple and Android app stores, as well as the city's website, vhal.org.
The City Council also on Monday announced that work to rehabilitate Wald Park and Altadena Valley Park should be completed within the next week to 10 days.
