Editorial: It’s time for Frederick Road to finally be completed

Frederick Road is known as a major thoroughfare through Opelika near Interstate 85. It is also known as the major artery that needed widening and repaving, but never really got all of it.
For nearly 15 years, Frederick Road has either been under some sort of construction or under the microscope for future projects.
The continued delayed construction over the years has resulted in a tremendous waste of time and money. Bickering between agencies and controversies over the road’s development stinted its progress.

But ever so slowly, it has progressed. Bit by bit, what was a bumpy two-lane road from South Long Street to the Auburn city limit, where its name changes to Glenn Avenue (which is four lanes) has improved.

The four-lane segment from Gateway Drive to South Long Street is a testament to that.

Now it’s time to finish the job.

With the commercialization near TigerTown and future plans for commercialization all the way to Auburn, there is no reason this road — which is very busy — should be two-laned from TigerTown to Auburn.

Finishing the job can’t come soon enough. Traffic in the area isn’t slowing down any time soon.

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller is determined to finish this project, creating a four-lane road with a middle turn lane.

Though some plans call for the road to be completed by 2012, Fuller is hoping to have it completed even sooner.

Once right-of-way snags are no longer an issue, this project can move forward.

Of course, the Alabama Department of Transportation may have something to say about that. Federal funding for various projects across the state may not be what it used to be, but it appears Frederick Road is more than on ALDOT’s radar.

This time, the city and ALDOT should work closer together to not just get this project done, but to get it right and make it a road that some might actually think was worth the wait.

For many, Frederick Road is a gateway from Auburn into Opelika. As Opelika continues to grow, it and its citizens deserve a Frederick Road that accommodates their growing needs.