• Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) personnel provided the Community Outreach Group with an overview of the status of project.
o Current 8 mile section grade and drain work almost complete. A drainage area near Jones Road will be repaired by the existing contractor.
o Current base and pave project from Mississippi State line to Walter Tanner Road complete.
o Big Creek Bridge Extension project scheduled to be let in September 2009.
o ALDOT reevaluating geotechnical and construction methods for 158 connector project; Thompson Engineering selected as new contractor for design work.
o No letting date for intersections at this time

• ALDOT provided the COG with a presentation of a 3 dimension rendering of the intersection of Old 98 to New 98. The preliminary design is being re-evaluated.

• ALDOT discussed un-permitted access and vandalism along project. Vehicles (4-wheel drive and all terrain vehicles) have been accessing the construction area and causing damage to slopes. Concrete barricades have been installed temporarily to stop access, and ALDOT will be adding additional rip-rap to protect slopes and deter use of project for recreation. Enhanced patrolling by State Trooper and Sheriff’s Department has been effective in reducing acts of vandalism.

• During the past two weeks, the project has received more than 31 inches of rain with no environmental compliance issues.

• The COG was taken on a site tour to observe the completed base and pave work, the grade and drain work on the east end of the project, the completed hazardous material containment pond west of Big Creek Bridge, and the completed platypus slope stabilization system. The COG also observed the proposed alignment for the intersection at the Old 98 and New 98 tie.