DETOUR ALERT: Demolition of Quinlan Castle begins, blocking Richard Arrington Blvd. from Jan. 7-9

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Quinlan Castle
Demolition of Quinlan Castle on January 7, 2022. (Nathan Watson/Bham Now)

The demolition of Quinlan Castle, located on Birmingham’s Southside, will take place this weekend, beginning on Friday, January 7th and ending on Sunday, January 9th. During the project, portions of Richard Arrington Boulevard will be blocked off.

As reported by Bham Now, Southern Research began preparing for demolition at the beginning of the new year. It is expected to take until February to finish the project.

The Details for This Weekend

Quinlan Castle
Demolition of Quinlan Castle on January 7, 2022. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Expect to take alternative routes and detours this weekend and in the future around the Five Points South area. Here is what to expect this weekend:

  • On Friday, Jan. 7, Richard Arrington Boulevard will be completely shut down near the castle, and it will remain closed through the weekend (Jan.8-9) to ensure safety during the most intense demolition work. On Monday, Jan. 10, Richard Arrington will be partly reopened, but one lane will remain closed for the rest of the month while the site is cleaned.
  • A portion of Ninth Avenue South near Richard Arrington Boulevard will remain closed for the duration of the demolition work.
Quinlan Castle
Barriers erected on Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. on January 1, 2022. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Built in 1927 on the northwest corner of 9th Avenue South and 21st Street South, the castle has been vacant since the late 1990s.

“While the castle’s demolition is a bittersweet moment, we are excited about our plans for this site and what they mean for the future of Southern Research and for Alabama,” said Josh Carpenter, Ph.D., the president and CEO of Southern Research. “We are building a new biotech center that will greatly expand our research in infectious diseases like COVID-19 and the chronic health conditions that put our family, friends and communities at risk.”

What alternate routes are you going to take? Let us know by tagging @bhamnow on social media

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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