MONTGOMERY – Transportation Director John Cooper has announced the timeline for completing the transition to a new organizational structure for the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Under the timeline announced in late September, efforts will begin immediately to finalize the process of consolidating ALDOT’s nine divisions into five regions. The new organizational structure is aimed at providing increased decision-making authority at the local level, along with greater accountability and efficiency.
The remaining consolidations will create ALDOT’s Northern Region, West Central Region and East Central Region. Previous consolidations created the Southwestern Region in July 2013 and the Southeastern Region effective Oct. 1.
In north Alabama, the First and Second Divisions are combining to form ALDOT’s Northern Region. The Northern Region will consist of Cherokee, Cullman, Dekalb, Etowah, Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties from the First Division and Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan counties from the Second Division. Cooper has appointed First Division Engineer Johnny Harris to the position of region engineer for the Northern Region. This consolidation will be completed by Nov. 1. The Northern Region office will be located in Huntsville.
ALDOT’s West Central Region will be operational by Dec. 1. Cooper has appointed Second Division Engineer James Brown to the position of region engineer for the West Central Region. The West Central Region will be made up of the Fifth Division counties of Bibb, Chilton, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties, plus Marion and Winston counties from the Second Division, Dallas County from the Southeast Region (former Sixth Division) and Walker County from the Third Division. Fifth Division Engineer Dee Rowe will serve as the assistant region engineer for the West Central Region. The West Central Region office will be located in Tuscaloosa.
ALDOT’s East Central Region will be operational by Jan. 1. Cooper has appointed Fourth Division Engineer Dejarvis Leonard to the position of region engineer for the East Central Region. The East Central Region will be made up of Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties. Third Division Engineer Brian Davis will head a new Office of Engineering Services working with ALDOT’s chief engineer on statewide planning and policy issues.
“When we announced the process of consolidating our nine divisions into five regions, we recognized it would be a phased process,” Cooper said. “We have piloted the process in the Southwestern Region based in Mobile, and have found it to be effective and efficient from a customer service standpoint with citizens and local government officials, and in managing our construction and maintenance needs. I have every confidence that we will see continued improvements in our responsiveness, customer service and project management under this new organizational structure.”
