Thinking about heading southbound on Interstate 65 through Gardendale and Fultonddale?

Think again.

Construction in the I-22 work zone has I-65 down to one lane — and part of that lane is off on the shoulder in spots — and that work has traffic backed up all the way to the Mt. Olive Road exit as of Saturday at 1 p.m.

The lane closure began later Friday night, and will continue through early Monday morning. ALDOT is moving traffic onto newly-completed lanes through the zone, and is also blasting rock in the area. The latter will cause some closures in the northbound lanes as well.

Traffic is detouring onto U.S. 31 through Gardendale and Fultondale, resulting in heavier traffic than normal.

ALDOT says normal traffic flow will resume by 5 a.m. Monday.