Crossword Genius

Period in Alabama principally surveying transport hubs (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

terminals

'transport hubs' is the definition.
(as in airport terminals)

'period in alabama principally surveying' is the wordplay.
'period' becomes 'term' (term is a kind of period).
'alabama' becomes 'al'.
'principally' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'surveying' is 's'.
'term'+'in'+'al'+'s'='TERMINALS'

(Another definition for terminals that I've seen is " Tramlines to boundaries".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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