Huntsville expands greenway network with $2.8 million, 4 miles of new trails

Huntsville is expanding its greenway network with two major projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and safety for residents. The projects together total nearly $3 million and are scheduled to begin later this year.

Both projects are funded through partnership agreements with the Alabama Department of Transportation and will utilize Transportation Alternatives Program funds, a federal program administered by ALDOT that supports pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

The Bailey Cove project will create a continuous 12-foot-wide, ADA-compliant multiuse path between Weatherly Road and Four Mile Post Road in south Huntsville. The 2.4-mile route will connect neighborhoods, schools, shopping areas and the Sandra Moon Community Complex, and will ultimately tie into the Aldridge Creek Greenway. The total estimated project cost is approximately $1.8 million, with TAP funding contributing roughly $800,000 to the project.

In addition to the new path, the project includes safety improvements at the Bailey Cove Road and Blevins Gap Road intersection. Upgrades will feature improved crosswalks, accessible pedestrian signals, traffic-calming measures and intersection adjustments designed to make the area safer for walkers, cyclists and drivers. The new multiuse path will provide residents, students and seniors with a safe, protected alternative to driving short trips.

The 1.6-mile Miller Branch Greenway Phase II will extend the existing trail in west Huntsville from Swancott Road south toward Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The 12-foot-wide asphalt path will run along Miller Branch Creek and remain entirely on City property. The total estimated cost for Phase II is about $1 million, with TAP funding providing approximately $797,464 and the City contributing a $199,366 local match.

This segment is part of a larger multi-phase effort to connect Dallas Fanning Nature Preserve near Martin Road to the Zierdt and Beadle greenways, the Singing River Trail in Triana, and ultimately, existing trails within Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. When complete, the west Huntsville greenway network will offer nearly 30 miles of interconnected trails, providing recreational access, environmental connectivity and safe commuting options in one of the area's fastest-growing corridors.

The mayor stated that Huntsville's greenway network is something the city has intentionally championed and advanced over the past 20 years. "These trails are more than recreational amenities – they are transportation corridors and connect neighborhoods to schools, jobs, shopping and parks. More importantly, they give our residents and visitors safe, multimodal options for how they move throughout our city."

The Manager of Urban & Long-range Planning for the City of Huntsville said the greenways provide families a chance to get out and do something together, to get some exercise. "Folks who just like to bike or run or walk for exercise, they have these resources to do it safely so they don't have to walk on the side of the road. You can get out on a safe path and feel comfortable exercising. But a lot of folks actually use them for transportation as well. It's a great alternative to get from point A to point B."

Both projects reflect the priorities identified in Huntsville's BIG Picture/Greenway Master Plan and through public input sessions, where residents consistently emphasized the need for better connectivity across the city. Through its partnership with the Land Trust of North Alabama and ALDOT, the City continues to expand its network of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

Huntsville currently has approximately 130 miles of greenways, bikeways and trails, with additional miles planned each year. Construction timelines will be announced once final engineering and coordination with ALDOT are complete.