BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Folks are still talking about Trinity Hospital finally getting the "all clear" to move to Highway 280.

Birmingham's fire chief Ivor Brooks said he's excited that Trinity is making this move because it will mean a shorter distance to transport some patients, and that could save lives.

Birmingham's fire department already has a fire station almost directly across 280 from the hospital site and transports patients who live along the U.S. 280 corridor.

Chief Brooks said Monday afternoon that his department will still be able to get patients in Trinity's current neighborhood to care at other hospitals just as fast. He added that when this move to 280 is complete, it will shorten the time it takes to get a whole new area of patients into critical care.

The time has come for work to begin on the Highway 280 improvement project.

ALDOT
will begin work on the $15.6 million project Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
The project covers the highway from the Hollywood Boulevard Overpass in
Mountain Brook to Hugh Daniel Drive in Shelby County.

ALDOT says
that various lanes on both sides of the highway will be closed between 7
p.m. and 6 a.m. each day. Contractors will be milling and temporarily
re-striping for lane shifts, excavating, relocating drainage and
resurfacing the roadway.

ALDOT has made several changes to the original plans after receiving feedback from the community. The eastbound turn signal will stay at the Cherokee Road intersection, for example.

HOMEWOOD, AL (WBRC)- Homewood police announced Friday they've arrested a 19-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico on drug and weapons charges after pulling him over in a traffic stop. Police believe he may be connected to a Mexican drug cartel.

Homewood officers pulled over Juan Alberto Canedo at the intersection on Valley Avenue and Greensprings for a traffic violation on Tuesday, May 14.

Police say a K-9 unit recently added to the department detected the drugs in a hidden compartment in the car. Officers found more than 30 ounces of red, white and blue crystal methamphetamines plus an automatic pistol.

With a street value of around $127,000, this is the most meth ever confiscated in Homewood, Police Chief Jim Roberson said.