The Alabama National Guard broke ground in early June on the new readiness center,located at the southeast corner of Moores Mill Road and Winchester Road.

The facility will accommodate up to 200 soldiers for centralized training,primarily on weekends,with some weekday activity for training and emergency response.

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new Facility an upgrade, But Traffic Concerns Loom

Lt. Drew Hill with the Alabama National Guard stated the new readiness center is an upgrade from older facilities in North Alabama.

“we’re coming from all over the state,even a few coming from out of state,to come into these readiness centers to train and become proficient in our skills,” Hill saeid.”We’re excited to have huntsville up there. It’s a large recruiting base. This provides a large opportunity for both the city and the Guard to move forward in this direction.”

“You kind of take your life in your own hands when you’re driving down the roads during rush hour, especially,”

However, nearby residents are worried about increased traffic congestion.

Citizens report that the intersection near the site is already heavily congested, especially during peak times. Longtime resident Lauri Rigdon, whose husband is a former National Guard member, noted that traffic has worsened with population growth and new developments.

“You kind of take your life in your own hands when you’re driving down the roads during rush hour, especially,” Rigdon said.

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Rigdon added that local schools, businesses, and Valhalla Cemetery contribute to infrastructure strain.

“You would think that would be a priority with all the businesses going in, but I guess not,” she said.

Projected Completion

The training center is part of ongoing military infrastructure investments in North Alabama, intended to support state defense and emergency preparedness. The project is slated for completion by late 2026.