Alabama Department of Transportation moves forward with City Walk BHAM project
City Walk BHAM will bring communities and businesses together. It will also serve as a hub for pedestrians to get to venues in the area. (contributed)
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) recently announced plans to start construction for City Walk BHAM. The new state-of-the-art multipurpose destination will be underneath the reconstructed Interstate Highway 59/20 bridges. It will be a 31-acre project spanning 10 blocks from 15th Street North to 25th Street North.
Brasfield and Gorrie, the prime contractor, has deployed three crews to meet the timeline within 425 days. After its completion, it will bring the business district and community together to promote tourism.
City Walk BHAM will aim to create a welcoming and inviting pedestrian experience to event venues, including the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Boutwell Auditorium, Linn Park and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute among businesses, restaurants, hotels and other attractions in the area.
The new gathering place will be transformed into sports and green spaces, including a vendor marketplace, water features, dog park, skate park, public art and performance areas and more.
The colorful changing lights will illuminate the outer edges of the bridges during special events. (Shirley Jackson / Alabama NewsCenter)
Here is what you can expect on each block of the City Walk BHAM Masterplan:
- Block A: 15th Street to 16th Street – Plans include a challenge course, amphitheater, civil rights story zone, recreational sports space with artificial turf, multiuse field, gathering space, 1/4-mile walking trail.
- Block B: 16th Street to 18th Street – Plans include a roller skating rink, food trucks, activity zone and skate park.
- Block C: 18th Street to 19th Street – Plans include performance space, outdoor classroom and parking.
- Block D: 19th Street to Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard – Plans include an outdoor stage, central gathering space, green ribbon garden path, water feature, restrooms, security station and information desk.
- Block E: Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard to 22nd Street – Plans for this block include a market space.
- Block F: 22nd Street to 23rd Street – Plans include a beer and wine garden and green ribbon garden path.
- Block G: 23rd Street to 24th Street – Plans include a dog park, pickleball court, restrooms and parking.
- Block H: 24th Street to 25th Street – Plans include a gateway pond, greenspace, playground, restrooms and pavilion.
“The future for City Walk BHAM is bright and filled with endless possibilities,” said Steve Haynes, assistant regional engineer of preconstruction for ALDOT. “There are very few places in the country with a public space like this. It is going to be like a Christmas surprise you were not expecting.”
A full activity calendar will be available to the public, including daily amenities, core programs and a variety of evolving events, including festivals and live performances.
Aesthetic lighting will add a beautiful array of colors on the outer edges of the bridges with functional lighting underneath.
City Walk BHAM will be managed by the BJCC. In a statement to ALDOT, the BJCC Authority Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Tad Snider said, “The BJCC is proud to partner with ALDOT to assume ongoing operations and maintenance of City Walk BHAM upon its completion. It’s a natural fit for the BJCC, not just because of proximity, but because our team has key experience managing this sort of multiattraction destination. We’re excited to see it taking shape all around us, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to City Walk BHAM later next year.”
Ongoing projects in the downtown area include the new Protective Stadium and expansion and renovations to Legacy Arena.
City Walk BHAM starts near the Civil Rights District and ends near Uptown entertainment district east of the BJCC. It is expected to be completed prior to the Summer 2022 World Games.
For updates, visit citywalkbham.com.
City Walk BHAM has been the talk of the town since the Interstate Highway 59/20 Central Business District was completed. Brasfield and Gorrie will complete the project by July 2022. (Alabama NewsCenter / Shirley Jackson)
