Traffic on Dothan's Ross Clark Circle Reaches Highest Point Since 2020 Pandemic

The busy Alabama highway loop is seeing a steady increase in drivers after a pandemic-era drop.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:20am

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Traffic on Dothan, Alabama's Ross Clark Circle has reached its highest point since the 2020 pandemic, with nearly 120,000 drivers traveling the 14-mile loop in 2024. Traffic dropped to around 108,000 during the pandemic but has climbed steadily since, approaching pre-pandemic levels seen in 2018 before the road expanded from four to six lanes.

Why it matters

The Ross Clark Circle is a major artery connecting Alabama to Georgia and Florida, making it an important economic driver for the region. While some residents have expressed frustration with the increased traffic, local officials view it as an opportunity to generate more sales tax revenue and support local businesses.

The details

The traffic increase has been noticeable to longtime Dothan residents like Trystin Johns, who said "The roads don't make any sense. People can't navigate the roads. People that have been in Dothan for years and years and years are getting into car crashes. They can't focus on the roads. The roads aren't making any sense. It's just a lot." However, other residents like Deon Culver feel the traffic is manageable, saying "I think the traffic is okay. I just think the road work and all that just slows down the traffic."

  • Traffic dropped to around 108,000 drivers during the 2020 pandemic.
  • Traffic has climbed steadily since the pandemic, reaching nearly 120,000 drivers in 2024.

The players

Trystin Johns

A Dothan resident of almost 20 years who has noticed a significant change in the city's traffic patterns and driver behavior.

Deon Culver

A Dothan resident who feels the traffic is manageable, attributing any slowdowns to ongoing road work.

Colton Cureton

The vice president of economic development at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, who sees the increased traffic as an opportunity to generate more sales tax revenue and support local businesses.

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What they’re saying

“The roads don't make any sense. People can't navigate the roads. People that have been in Dothan for years and years and years are getting into car crashes. They can't focus on the roads. The roads aren't making any sense. It's just a lot.”

— Trystin Johns, Dothan Resident

“I think the traffic is okay. I just think the road work and all that just slows down the traffic.”

— Deon Culver, Dothan Resident

“When those individuals are stopping or driving through, they are getting gas here, they're eating here, maybe they're shopping here. So anytime they're spending dollars, they're generating more sales tax into our economy, but also supporting our local businesses that are here as well. So that's a very important piece to our economy as a whole.”

— Colton Cureton, Vice President of Economic Development, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce

The takeaway

The steady increase in traffic on Dothan's Ross Clark Circle highlights the economic opportunities and challenges facing the city. While some residents are frustrated by the congestion, local officials view the higher traffic as a chance to boost sales tax revenue and support local businesses. As the region continues to grow, managing the flow of vehicles on this vital transportation artery will be an ongoing priority.