Remembering Bear Bryant today - Why Time Counts
This is the beginning of a new day.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something I have traded for it.
I want it to be a gain, not a loss;
good, not evil;
success, not failure --
in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it today.
[A prayer Coach Bryant carried with him in his wallet]

 HUNTSVILLE — The Alabama Department of Transportation advises that closure of the ramp from eastbound Martin Road to northbound Memorial Parkway (U.S. 231/Alabama 53), at the southeast corner of the interchange, will begin [January 5, 2016].
 
A temporary ramp allowing traffic from eastbound and westbound Martin Road to access northbound Memorial Parkway will be opened at the northeast corner of the interchange.
 
Eastbound motorists on Martin Road who wish to reach southbound Memorial Parkway may either follow the Whitesburg Drive detour or take the temporary ramp and use the service road loop to make a U-turn at Golf Road. The Golf Road detour is recommended for any northbound Memorial Parkway traffic wishing to access westbound Martin Road.
 
Access ramps from eastbound Martin Road to southbound Memorial Parkway and from northbound Memorial Parkway to westbound Martin Road were closed in recent weeks.
 
These closures will remain in place for the duration of the first phase of the South Memorial Parkway improvements project. The first phase, which includes construction of service roads for Memorial Parkway between Golf Road and Whitesburg Drive and replacement of the Martin Road bridge and interchange with a wider bridge and elevated intersection, has a completion deadline of Dec. 1, 2017. The closures of eastbound Martin Road and both access ramps on the south side of Martin Road are necessary for construction of the service roads and bridge.
 
In the second phase, which has a completion deadline of June 1, 2019, the Memorial Parkway mainline and overpasses at Byrd Spring Road and Logan Drive/Lily Flagg Road will be constructed, forming a continuous expressway between National Boulevard and Mastin Lake Road.
 
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Seth Burkett
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
North Region Information Specialist
256-505-4964
burketts@dot.state.al.gov