A major project designed to tackle the daily traffic crunch around Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 9 has landed another significant round of funding.
Huntsville has been awarded a $10.8 million federal grant for Resolute Way, adding to the funding already assembled for the planned new connection between Interstate 565 and the Arsenal’s main entrance.
The award follows an $11.5 million funding agreement Huntsville entered into with the Alabama Department of Transportation last November for the first phase of Resolute Way. That agreement included $2.3 million from the City, with the remaining funding coming through the Huntsville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The new federal funding comes through the Defense Community Infrastructure Program. In addition to supporting Phase 1, city officials say the grant will help Huntsville accelerate Phase 2, which will reconfigure Exit 13 westbound at Madison Boulevard, relocate Governors West and create a full-access interchange.
What Resolute Way will do
The project is much larger than the $10.8 million grant announced this week. Huntsville currently estimates the overall Resolute Way interchange project at about $60 million.
When built, the project is expected to:
- Create a new route to Gate 9: Phase 1 includes approximately 2.1 miles of new roadway connecting the I-565/Madison Boulevard area with Redstone Gateway near the Arsenal’s main entrance.
- Take pressure off Research Park Boulevard: Resolute Way is intended to provide alternate access to Redstone instead of concentrating traffic at the I-565/Research Park Boulevard interchange.
- Give drivers more room to merge: Plans include an additional mile of weave and merge distance along I-565 between Madison Boulevard and Research Park Boulevard. The City has previously said that corridor handles more than 140,000 vehicles per day.
- Eventually overhaul Exit 13: Phase 2 calls for reconfiguring the westbound I-565 exit at Madison Boulevard and relocating Governors West to create a full-access interchange, with the goal of improving both traffic flow and safety.
- Support Redstone’s growing missions: City officials have specifically connected the need for Resolute Way to expanding missions at the Arsenal, including U.S. Space Command and the FBI.
Construction isn’t imminent. Huntsville approved a $680,691 engineering contract with Garver earlier this year for surveying, geotechnical work and design of Phase 1. Design is expected to be completed in mid-2027, with construction currently anticipated to begin in late 2027.
The federal award adds another piece to the project’s funding. Huntsville previously entered into an $11.5 million agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for Phase 1, including $2.3 million from the City and the remainder from the Huntsville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Resolute Way also appears among the road projects funded in Huntsville’s newly approved FY2027 capital plans.
Mayor Tommy Battle called Resolute Way an important part of the infrastructure supporting Redstone Arsenal.
“Redstone Arsenal plays an extraordinary role in keeping our nation safe and Resolute Way will become an invaluable part of the Arsenal’s support system,” Battle said.
The Arsenal’s growth adds urgency to the project. More than 45,000 people commute to Redstone each day, according to the City, and the installation is home to more than 70 federal tenants.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong said the transportation infrastructure surrounding the Arsenal needs to grow along with its national security missions.
“As north Alabama’s national security contributions continue to grow, so does our need for infrastructure to support the people and places who carry out those missions,” Strong said. “This $10.8 million federal grant for the Resolute Way Interchange project will improve access to Redstone Arsenal and ease congestion.”
Resolute Way is also one piece of a larger effort to build new access into Redstone. The City lists both Resolute Way on the Arsenal’s west side and the planned Arsenal East Connector, which would provide a direct I-565 connection to South Huntsville, among major transportation projects supporting Redstone and the arrival of U.S. Space Command.
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