In a few weeks, Interstate 20/59 through downtown Birmingham will close for an estimated 14 months, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The closure is part of a larger, ongoing project to replace the aging interstate bridges throughout the area where Interstates 20, 59 and 65 intersect.

The ALDOT release hopes this portion of the project, which will be the largest continuous closure of the project, will be complete in March of 2020. The entire replacement project to rebuild the bridges is set to be complete in November 2020.

An exact closure date for the interstate has not been announced but is expected in mid to late January.

Once the closure begins, the contractors will have 14 months to complete the work. After 14 months, there will be a $250,000 per day incentive for finishing the project early or a $250,000 fine for every day the project goes over 14 months.

While the interstate is closed, Traffic from I-20/59 west bound will exit at Carraway Boulevard and take Finley Boulevard around the city, either to I-65 at the Finley exit or to 20-59 at the Arkadelphia Road exit.

Eastbound traffic will be detoured to the Arkadelphia Road exit to Finley Boulevard to Carraway Boulevard. They can also use the 17th Street North exit, or take I-65 South to 4th Avenue South.

Updates will be posted on ALDOT’s project website, 5920bridge.com, which also has more detailed maps and information on detours, the project history, the final vision and more.