Major interstate work set to begin

One of Alabama’s most traveled roads is about to shut down until 2020.

The work centers on sections of Interstate 59/20 in downtown Birmingham, which will be closed to traffic for an estimated 14 months as construction gets under way to rebuild the bridges supporting the interstate, the Alabama Department of Transportation has reported.

The major traffic artery will impact motorists not only in Birmingham, but just about anyone who regularly or occasionally uses the route. ALDOT records some 160,000 vehicles a day in 59/20, said DeJarvis Leonard, ALDOT East Central Region engineer. 

DeJarvis is encouraging motorists to plan alternate routes throughout the long project.

ALDOT has repaved the majority of Interstate 459 and made other improvements to prepare for the increased traffic anticipated after I-59/20 closes. 

Linda Crockett, from ADOT’s East Central Region office, issued the following schedule of immediate plans for the project, weather permitting:

Jan. 18-21:

— Red Mountain Expressway ramp to I-59 SB will close until the new ramp and new bridges are constructed and open to traffic.

— Ramp from I-59 SB to Red Mountain Expressway SB will not be available; however, the Central Business District bridges will still be open. The ramp will re-open Monday, Jan. 21.

— Jan. 21: That evening, the shutdown of the Central Business District bridges begins from the interchange at I-65 to the interchange at Red Mountain Expressway.

Jan. 25-28:

— From 9 p.m., Friday until 6 a.m. Monday: Carraway Boulevard will be closed under the I-59/20 Central Business District bridges between Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard and 11th Avenue North.

Feb. 3-4:

— FEBRUARY 3-4: Carraway Boulevard will be closed in the vicinity of the I-59/20 Central Business District bridges for completion of the demolition of the Red Mountain Expressway ramp to I-59/20 SB. Carraway Boulevard will reopen by 6 a.m.. on Feb. 4.

— Feb. 4: 25th Street on and off ramps expected to be open to traffic.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution, obey the posted speed limits, and adjust arrival/departure times, and use Interstate 459 to go around the closures whenever possible, Crockett said.

Interstate 459 is considered by ALDOT to be the most efficient way to avoid construction delays and bypass the closure. For local traffic, there will be signed detours along with increased presence of law enforcement, Alabama Service Assistance Patrol (ASAP) trucks, and wrecker service to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible. 

This work is a part of the I-59/20 Central Business District (CBD) Interchange and Bridge Replacement Project.