Town Madison interchange approved

MADISON – The Town Madison mixed-use development has advanced a step closer to reality with environmental approval that secures the new Zierdt Road interchange in the City of Madison.

In a press conference on site, Madison and county leaders announced on Sept. 20 that Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and U.S. Federal Highway Administration have approved the Environmental Assessment (EA) document for the proposed interchange on I-565 near Zierdt Road.

Approval of the EA is the last major hurdle and allows completion of the interchange design. Construction will begin in early 2017 and be completed by summer 2018, officials said.

Town Madison developer Louis Breland attended the session, along with Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, Madison Mayor-Elect Paul Finley, Madison County Commissioner Steve Haraway and Madison City Councilman Tommy Overcash.

This approval green-lights the interchange’s final design. The new interchange will improve interstate access for Madison and allow for major commercial, residential and office developments.

The interchange also will provide an additional interstate access route for Redstone Arsenal commuters using Gate 7 on Zierdt Road.

Strong said this approval is great news for this project, which is a top priority for local, state and national leaders. “This is a huge step forward and we can now complete the design and begin construction. As Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, I can tell you that our number one priority is to see this interchange under construction as soon as possible,” Strong said.

Strong said the 1-565 interchange is critical for Madison, Madison County and Redstone Arsenal. “I want to thank Gov. Robert Bentley, Highway Director John Cooper, Alabama Federal Highway Division Administrator Mark Bartlett and Sen. Richard Shelby for their continued commitment to move this project forward,” Strong said.

Development now can accelerate on the planned multi-use development that covers 500 acres with 2.5 miles of interstate frontage. “Over the next months, we will complete our master plan, finish the demolition of the old Intergraph buildings and begin the construction of this interchange,” Breland said.

“I am also excited to announce that we will break ground on the first phase of the residential portion of Town Madison in December. You can expect major announcements of new commercial tenants in January 2017,” Breland said.

“Town Madison will truly be a destination to live, work, shop, dine and play. We will have news for each of these areas in the coming months,” Breland said.

Madison County Commission and Madison City Council formed the Town Madison Cooperative District to allow for public infrastructure investments that are integral in fully developing this site.

Projections estimate that Town Madison will be home to more than 800,000 square feet of new retail, restaurants and entertainment venues, along with 700,000 square feet of office space and 700 new hotel rooms. The total investment for this project is estimated at more than $300 million dollars and will create an expected 1,600 new jobs.

“Town Madison is critical to the future of Madison and our schools. It will generate millions of dollars to build new roads and parks, protect our communities and support our schools — without raising taxes,” Haraway said.

Huntsville, Madison and Madison County school districts will split an estimated $1.8 million annually in new sales tax dollars, officials said.

“We can now tell retailers when the interchange construction will begin and when it will be complete. This is the final piece of information they need to plan new stores,” Finley said.

“Today, I am telling retailers across the country that as Madison’s new mayor I will be calling you … so expect me on your doorstep soon. I want you to know that Town Madison is ‘Open for Business.’ We have a place for you in our community,” Finley said.