I-20/59 Going Single-Lane in Tuscaloosa County for Monthlong Bridge Repair
The Alabama Department of Transporation will close a Tuscaloosa County Road and a small stretch of two westbound lanes of Interstate 20/59 for around a month to repair a bridge that was damaged last month.
John McWilliams, a spokesperson for ALDOT, told local media about the upcoming work in a Friday morning press release and through posts to social media.
The state agency said the Covered Bridge Road overpass above I-20/59 at Exit 86 in Vance was struck by a large piece of equipment being hauled by a rental truck on September 28th.
Now, to address the structural issue, ALDOT will close Covered Bridge Road on Monday and not reopen it until November 18th.
On the interstate below, the center and right westbound lanes will close the following Sunday, October 23rd, and also reopen on November 18th.
“Although the bridge poses no immediate danger to the traveling public, it’s important that we repair it before it could potentially worsen,” said Wallace McAdory III, West Central Region Engineer. “We recognize that these repairs will impact traffic, so please make sure to leave early to reach your destination on time.”
The lane closure is expected to create regular delays and motorists should take U.S. Highway 11, Highway 216 or other alternate routes instead of heading west on the interstate when it's possible.