Save the Little Cahaba

  • by: Trae Watson
  • recipient: Alabama Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Shelby County Commissioners Lindsey Allison and Rick Shepard, Alabama Senator Jabo Waggoner, Alabama Senator Mark Blackwell, Alabama

Say NO to putting thousands more cars on Cahaba Beach, Sicard Hollow, and Cahaba Heights Roads

We the undersigned are opposed to the paving and widening of Cahaba Beach Road and the construction of a two-lane bridge across the Little Cahaba River. The Alabama Department of Transportation and Shelby County wish to open Cahaba Beach Road, which has been closed to through traffic for two decades. Doing so, they claim, will create more "connectivity". This would come at the direct expense of an undeveloped wilderness surounding a source of Birmingham's drinking water. The Little Cahaba is a special jewel of peace and quiet that is enjoyed daily by bikers, hikers, educational youth groups, and plain folks seeking a moment of solace in their busy lives.
This road doesn't solve traffic problems—it creates more. It would potentially send thousands of vehicles, including eighteen-wheelers, barreling through the surrounding neighborhoods. If it succeeds, this short-sighted idea will cause yet another special habitat to be lost for all generations to come. Join your voice with us in saying:

We affirm:

  • No to routing 280 and Liberty Park traffic onto Cahaba Beach Road and other  already heavily traveled, curvy roads;
  • No to the risks posed by construction and traffic over the Little Cahaba which takes water from Lake Purdy to  feed the Cahaba River and Birmingham's water supply;
  • No to jeopardizing TWO federally protected water cleaning mussel species in the river;
  • No to spending millions of dollars that Shelby County doesn't have to create yet another traffic problem;
  • No to destroying the quiet wilderness of the Little Cahaba River which is enjoyed by countless citizens and  is one of the few remaining natural environments amidst the encroachment of urban sprawl.


To whom it may concern:


We the undersigned are opposed to the paving and widening of Cahaba Beach Road and the construction of a two-lane bridge across the Little Cahaba River. The Alabama Department of Transportation and Shelby County wish to open Cahaba Beach Road, which has been closed to through traffic for two decades. Doing so, they claim, will turn 20% of traffic off Highway 280 for those seeking a cut-through to Cahaba Heights. To do this, traffic will have to enter Sicard Hollow Road, which is already heavily traveled by local and school traffic.. At peril is a special little jewel of peace and quiet that is enjoyed daily by bikers, hikers, educational youth groups, and plain folks seeking a moment of solace in their busy lives.
This road doesn’t solve traffic problems—it creates more. It would potentially send thousands of vehicles, including eighteen-wheelers, barreling toward Cahaba Heights. If it succeeds, this short-sighted idea will cause yet another special habitat to be lost for all generations to come. Join your voice with us in saying:


We affirm:



  • No to routing 280 and Liberty Park traffic onto Cahaba Beach Road and other  already heavily traveled, curvy roads;

  • No to the risks posed by construction and traffic over the Little Cahaba which takes water from Lake Purdy to  feed the Cahaba River and Birmingham’s water supply;

  • No to jeopardizing TWO federally protected water cleaning mussel species in the river;

  • No to spending $887,382 that Shelby County doesn’t have to create yet another traffic problem;

  • No to destroying the quiet wilderness of the Little Cahaba River which is enjoyed by countless citizens and  is one of the few remaining natural environments amidst the encroachment of urban sprawl.


Respectfully supported by,

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