DOTHAN—Traffic cones are a good thing; they’re a sign of progress.
This was the message today at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce Wiregrass Progress Report, where city leaders and business owners gathered to hear about developments coming to the area.
A whopping $2.9 million has gone toward road redevelopments in Dothan, with about 17 miles of streets being improved with repaving and/or extra lanes.
The main goal of city leaders with funding from the Alabama Department of Transportation: make Ross Clark Circle six lanes across.
As Dothan grows, better infrastructure will become a greater need; Dothan is trying to make up for no interstate running through the Circle City, and hurricane evacuations from Florida and Georgia can fill up the entire city.
Dothan is currently in phase three of the Ross Clark Circle widening project, but Public Works Director Tommy Wright said there is still much more work to be done improving roads.
“It’s pretty exciting times to be in Dothan and watch all the road construction develop and come to fruition,” he said.
He said the city is working on Google Maps capability with the new construction motorists are beginning to explore on the northwest portion of Ross Clark Circle near Sam’s Club.
The next target for road widening: the northern section of the Circle in front of the shopping center holding Eagle Eye Outfitters and Publix.
ALDOT intends to break the Circle into sections to continue the widening project, eventually moving to the east, west and south sides of town.
More traffic signals will be added as work is completed. Drivers can also expect some traffic signals to move, as more space between lights is better for traffic.
Several other smaller roads can expect repaving.
Along with improved infrastructure, the Circle City can expect more industry coming to town into a super industrial site off Westgate Parkway and an industrial park on Napier Field Road, the industrial development being called a “game changer.”
More jobs will come with Southern Roots Nut Company’s plan to open a processing facility in Dothan.
Matt Parker, the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President, said the millions of dollars of development launches Dothan into a new phase.
“We’re in a ballgame now we’ve never been in,” he said. “2025 is looking great.”
Wright said all the traffic cones are well worth the wait for better roads.
“Just be patient with us,” he said. “The cones can be daunting at times, but they are truly the sign of progress.”
