Enjoy it while you can

Over the weekend, the big billboard on Red Mountain Expressway, which has blighted the view as you come into Birmingham for years, came down. Here's what it looks like now - I see a much nicer view than...







...this (which is from the other direction, but you get the picture). Unfortunately, it's very temporary. Before long, there will be a huge Jumbotron TV screen like...






...this to greet you - just the thing to welcome people into the historic Highland Avenue district. The Birmingham City Council refused to adopt a moratorium on these monstrosities, the state Department of Transportation doesn't seem to care, so you the residents and drivers of Birmingham will feel the pain.





There is another one going up on I-65 North just before the 3rd Avenue North off-ramp, and one on 59-20 coming into downtown at Carraway Blvd. - the heart of "Malfunction Junction." This is an area so dangerous that the governor reduced the speed limit to 50 to try and avoid wrecks. Yet the city and the state don't think that a giant television screen will be a problem. Go figure.

What can you do? Let the city and state know what you think. If you'd like, send Scenic Alabama your comments and we will forward them. Ask the mayor and Council of Birmingham and the governor to not allow any more to go up.

We're working on some legislation and possibly court action to stop these from infesting any more of our roads. If you want to help, you can sign up for our email action alerts, you can make calls and write letters on your own, and you can donate to Scenic Alabama so we can keep up the fight (it's tax deductible and there's a donation button on the website).

Remember - they're your roads, and you deserve a safe and scenic drive!