The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved amendments to the city’s sign ordinance following multiple hearings in the Planning and Zoning Committee. The changes will include limiting the use of pole signs along scenic corridors in Birmingham, which some feel can be detrimental to the character of certain areas.

Other changes include expanding the usage of attached signs to include canopies and awnings, expanding provisions for monument signs, expanding provisions for small blade and vertical signage, and creating provisions for historic, directory and corner signs.

“I’m sure the members of the City’s Planning, Engineering and Permits Department can tell you, but the council’s committee got really in the weeds with some of these details. But I think we made some really good improvements,” said Councilor Valerie Abbott, who chairs the Planning and Zoning Committee. “As with anything the council considers, we wanted to be sure we understood exactly what these changes were before the vote, and I’d like to thank our city officials for their work on this. It’s one of those issues that might seem a little boring until you have people who get upset about big, bright signs being put up in places they don’t belong.”

The council also approved an application for a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist with replacing five bridges across the city.

This grant is for smaller repair projects, and if approved, it would include a $1 million match from the city. Those locations are for Lawson Road at Five Mile Road (Five Mile Creek); West Boulevard at First Avenue North; the old terminal train station tunnel; Greensprings Avenue, over the CSX rail line; and 2nd Avenue North at 6th Street North.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Alabama’s bridges received a “C-” rating in their 2021 Infrastructure Report Card. Roughly 7% of the bridges statewide have been deemed structurally insufficient — an estimated 1,400 total.

“We have a lot of bridges in Birmingham that are in need of repairs, across all areas of town,” Council President Darrell O’Quinn said. “A couple of these would be complete replacements, which is very much needed and this is an issue we hear from our residents on a regular basis. I’m happy we could move this forward today.”