The Patton Island Bridge Project

Patton Island Bridge

The Patton Island Bridge Project | In Pictures

Patton Island Bridge

Patton Island Bridge (its unofficial name, yet, the one I'm sure it will always be known by) finally opened in October of 2002. Its completion ended a process that began in the 70s, when Shoals area leaders first decided that a third link between Lauderdale and Colbert counties would eventually be needed. Today, the bridge joins O'Neal Bridge and Wilson Dam as links between Florence on the north side of the river, and Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia on the south side.

The bridge is six lanes in both directions. It will eventually connect on the north side to Florence Blvd. (US 43/72) at the intersection of Helton Drive, then merge into Helton Drive itself. The road will be six lanes to the intersection of Florence Blvd., where a diamond interchange is being planned. Currently the road ends at Veterans Drive, just across the river into Florence. A half-mile extension to Huntsville Road should be completed sometime in the near future.
On the south side of the river, the road is currently six lanes up to the intersection with TVA Reservation Road. The new road merges here into Wilson Dam Road (AL 133), which is currently only two lanes. The plan is to eventually seven-lane Wilson Dam Road to Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals, then continue with five lanes to the road's end at AL 20 south of Muscle Shoals.

From Sheffield, looking east at the Patton Island Bridge

Currently the bridge is signed as AL 133, but who knows what ALDOT plans in the future. When all roads leading to and from the bridge are complete, the route will be the easiest drive between Florence and Muscle Shoals. One possibility would be to route US 43 traffic onto the road at Florence Blvd., bringing 43 south all the way to AL 20. From there, a new road would be built, veering southwest to join the present-day alignment near Littleville in southern Colbert County. Note however, this is mostly just pure speculation on my part.

Here is my collection of pictures of the construction project, beginning in June of 2002. Keep checking back for updates as work progresses.

North Side - Florence

Date Added Description and Link

10/28/03 This is a shot of construction in June 2002, before the bridge opened. The bridge itself was complete, but there was no road built for Florence drivers to access it. The area in the foreground is now an onramp leading from Veterans Drive to the new highway.

10/28/03 A second shot of the construction, just a few yards down the road from the previous pic. The part of the road that the pic is taken from, Veterans Drive, has been reconfigured. An overpass is now in the location where this pic was taken, passing over the new highway below. The part of the road running under Veterans Drive is not yet complete, but should be opened in early 2004.

11/07/03 The onramp from Veterans Drive onto the bridge. This is the ramp mentioned in the first pic above. Although this pic was taken in October 2002, the area looks roughly the same as of December 2003. Just an example of how "fast" this project is moving.

11/07/03 View looking northbound, just across the bridge into Florence. To the right is the ramp to Veterans Drive. This pic was taken in November of 2002, and some things have changed since then. Veterans Drive now spans over the road just beyond the "Road Closed" signs. Traffic lights have been installed to control traffic coming off the ramp, though they are not yet functioning. In the distance you can see where the next extension of the higway will run to, Huntsville Road. It will eventually climb the hill and continue on towards Florence Blvd.

11/07/03 Southbound on the bridge, you see this sign as you leave Florence and Lauderdale County.

11/07/03 A look at the aforementioned Veterans Drive overpass. This is looking eastbound. This picture was taken in October 2003 when construction on the overpass was wrapping up. In the foreground is an example of the guide signs going up all over Florence. These signs point to important parts of the city, and are scattered along all major thoroughfares.

12/21/03 The overpass again. The road finally opened to the public on December 16, after nearly a year of detours for traffic on Veterans Drive. Looking closely, you can see traffic lights at the top of the hill. It is for traffic turning on and off of the ramp leading to the bridge.

12/21/03 Looking at that same intersection, this time looking back westbound. The sign on the right points towards Muscle Shoals. To the left is the onramp to the bridge.

12/21/03 A view of the onramp again, looking up towards the intersection from a bike path that runs alongside the road and across the bridge. The ramp itself is actually named Ironside Street, as it replaced the former part of that street which ran here.

12/21/03 A look at the uncompleted section of the road. When completed, this section will run from the end of the bridge north to Huntsville Road. I wanted this pic because of the sign at the bottom left. It's blurry on here, but reads "AL 133 Ends Ahead - Traffic Must Use Huntsville Road". There are two of the signs mounted, one on each side of the northbound lanes.

12/26/03 The northern end of the bridge, as seen from that same bike path. Immediately after you arrive on the Lauderdale side you see this sign directing you up the "jug-handle" ramp to Veterans Drive.

12/26/03 Looking east down Huntsville Road, just past what will be the intersection with the new highway. These extra-large street signs are going up on the corners of streets near the project. Only ones of their kind in Florence.

12/26/03 From the Aetna Street intersection, this is looking back west towards Huntsville Road's intersection with Sweetwater Avenue, and another one of those signs. The hill in the background is the one the new road will eventually either climb, or blast through to get to Florence Blvd.

5/02/04 Looking northbound just across the bridge, at the intersection with the Veterans Drive onramp. Finally, after over a year of work, the extension past the traffic light to Huntsville Road opened in early April.

5/02/04 Driving down the new extension of the road, toward the Huntsville Road intersection. The next phase of construction will take the road over the hill in the distance, where it will travel about a mile to meet Florence Boulevard (US 43/72). For now, the road is striped for turning lanes only for the temporary ending ahead.

5/02/04 Remember this pic? This is almost the same view of the now completed portion of the road.

5/02/04 Okay, we're headed back south on that new extension now. Unfortunatley, this pic didn't turn out too well. I'll try to get a replacement soon. The sign on the right points you to the Veterans Drive onramp to the left. The LGS in the center of the pic informs us that Muscle Shoals is 2 miles away.

5/02/04 A closer view of the intersection in the above pic. Here there are three soutbound lanes, and two left turning lanes for the Veterans Drive onramp. Just beyond the lights you can see the bridge itself.

South Side - Muscle Shoals

Date Added Description and Link

11/07/03 At the south end of the bridge, you cross over into Colbert County.

11/07/03 For right now, the new road carries the AL 133 sign. The new bridge essentially bypasses Wilson Dam, which carried the route for some seventy years. The new road runs into Wilson Dam Road just ahead, the original routing for 133 through Muscle Shoals.

11/07/03 One of several LGS (Little Green Signs) on the road. Up ahead there is an intersection with the onramp bringing traffic onto this road from TVA Reservation Road. Turning left will take you to it, and also Colbert County Road 40.

11/07/03 Just yards down the road from the previous pic is this LGS.

11/07/03 Looking back northbound now you see this LGS, before the intersection.

11/07/03 A look at the long "onramp" from TVA Reservation Road onto the bridge highway. The intersection seen is halfway down the ramp, and is for Colbert County Road 40, also known as River Road. The road will, in a couple of years, be the route to a new Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail site being built in Ford City. It may eventually be widened to five lanes and become an AL highway.

11/07/03 What I believe to be the biggest Alabama highway sign ever. This was taken from TVA Reservation Road. To the left is the onramp. The overpass ahead carries the highway leading to the bridge. This sign no longer exists.

11/07/03 A view on that onramp. This is looking back southbound at the intersection with County Road 40. Notice the hanging street sign says River Road.

11/07/03 The view looking northbound on the highway, towards the Florence side. Except for the ridiculous 45 MPH speed limit (which is largely ignored), the road here feels like a freeway. It's nice to dream...

11/07/03 A view of Wilson Dam to the east. Well, not a very good one, but this is about as good as you can do with that chain link fence in the way.

North Side - Florence
Date Added	Description and Link
10/28/03	This is a shot of construction in June 2002, before the bridge opened. The bridge itself was complete, but there was no road built for Florence drivers to access it. The area in the foreground is now an onramp leading from Veterans Drive to the new highway.
10/28/03	A second shot of the construction, just a few yards down the road from the previous pic. The part of the road that the pic is taken from, Veterans Drive, has been reconfigured. An overpass is now in the location where this pic was taken, passing over the new highway below. The part of the road running under Veterans Drive is not yet complete, but should be opened in early 2004.
11/07/03	The onramp from Veterans Drive onto the bridge. This is the ramp mentioned in the first pic above. Although this pic was taken in October 2002, the area looks roughly the same as of December 2003. Just an example of how "fast" this project is moving.
11/07/03	View looking northbound, just across the bridge into Florence. To the right is the ramp to Veterans Drive. This pic was taken in November of 2002, and some things have changed since then. Veterans Drive now spans over the road just beyond the "Road Closed" signs. Traffic lights have been installed to control traffic coming off the ramp, though they are not yet functioning. In the distance you can see where the next extension of the higway will run to, Huntsville Road. It will eventually climb the hill and continue on towards Florence Blvd.
11/07/03	Southbound on the bridge, you see this sign as you leave Florence and Lauderdale County.
11/07/03	A look at the aforementioned Veterans Drive overpass. This is looking eastbound. This picture was taken in October 2003 when construction on the overpass was wrapping up. In the foreground is an example of the guide signs going up all over Florence. These signs point to important parts of the city, and are scattered along all major thoroughfares.
12/21/03	The overpass again. The road finally opened to the public on December 16, after nearly a year of detours for traffic on Veterans Drive. Looking closely, you can see traffic lights at the top of the hill. It is for traffic turning on and off of the ramp leading to the bridge.
12/21/03	Looking at that same intersection, this time looking back westbound. The sign on the right points towards Muscle Shoals. To the left is the onramp to the bridge.
12/21/03	A view of the onramp again, looking up towards the intersection from a bike path that runs alongside the road and across the bridge. The ramp itself is actually named Ironside Street, as it replaced the former part of that street which ran here.
12/21/03	A look at the uncompleted section of the road. When completed, this section will run from the end of the bridge north to Huntsville Road. I wanted this pic because of the sign at the bottom left. It's blurry on here, but reads "AL 133 Ends Ahead - Traffic Must Use Huntsville Road". There are two of the signs mounted, one on each side of the northbound lanes.
12/26/03	The northern end of the bridge, as seen from that same bike path. Immediately after you arrive on the Lauderdale side you see this sign directing you up the "jug-handle" ramp to Veterans Drive.
12/26/03	Looking east down Huntsville Road, just past what will be the intersection with the new highway. These extra-large street signs are going up on the corners of streets near the project. Only ones of their kind in Florence.
12/26/03	From the Aetna Street intersection, this is looking back west towards Huntsville Road's intersection with Sweetwater Avenue, and another one of those signs. The hill in the background is the one the new road will eventually either climb, or blast through to get to Florence Blvd.
5/02/04	Looking northbound just across the bridge, at the intersection with the Veterans Drive onramp. Finally, after over a year of work, the extension past the traffic light to Huntsville Road opened in early April.
5/02/04	Driving down the new extension of the road, toward the Huntsville Road intersection. The next phase of construction will take the road over the hill in the distance, where it will travel about a mile to meet Florence Boulevard (US 43/72). For now, the road is striped for turning lanes only for the temporary ending ahead.
5/02/04	Remember this pic? This is almost the same view of the now completed portion of the road.
5/02/04	Okay, we're headed back south on that new extension now. Unfortunatley, this pic didn't turn out too well. I'll try to get a replacement soon. The sign on the right points you to the Veterans Drive onramp to the left. The LGS in the center of the pic informs us that Muscle Shoals is 2 miles away.
5/02/04	A closer view of the intersection in the above pic. Here there are three soutbound lanes, and two left turning lanes for the Veterans Drive onramp. Just beyond the lights you can see the bridge itself.

South Side - Muscle Shoals
Date Added	Description and Link
11/07/03	At the south end of the bridge, you cross over into Colbert County.
11/07/03	For right now, the new road carries the AL 133 sign. The new bridge essentially bypasses Wilson Dam, which carried the route for some seventy years. The new road runs into Wilson Dam Road just ahead, the original routing for 133 through Muscle Shoals.
11/07/03	One of several LGS (Little Green Signs) on the road. Up ahead there is an intersection with the onramp bringing traffic onto this road from TVA Reservation Road. Turning left will take you to it, and also Colbert County Road 40.
11/07/03	Just yards down the road from the previous pic is this LGS.
11/07/03	Looking back northbound now you see this LGS, before the intersection.
11/07/03	A look at the long "onramp" from TVA Reservation Road onto the bridge highway. The intersection seen is halfway down the ramp, and is for Colbert County Road 40, also known as River Road. The road will, in a couple of years, be the route to a new Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail site being built in Ford City. It may eventually be widened to five lanes and become an AL highway.
11/07/03	What I believe to be the biggest Alabama highway sign ever. This was taken from TVA Reservation Road. To the left is the onramp. The overpass ahead carries the highway leading to the bridge. This sign no longer exists.
11/07/03	A view on that onramp. This is looking back southbound at the intersection with County Road 40. Notice the hanging street sign says River Road.
11/07/03	The view looking northbound on the highway, towards the Florence side. Except for the ridiculous 45 MPH speed limit (which is largely ignored), the road here feels like a freeway. It's nice to dream...
11/07/03	A view of Wilson Dam to the east. Well, not a very good one, but this is about as good as you can do with that chain link fence in the way.