Traffic & Transit
I-59/20 Bridges Could Open This Weekend
The Alabama Department of Transportation says the I-59/20 bridges could open as early as this weekend, weather permitting.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A long wait and a bevy of frustration for local motorists may come to an end this weekend. The Alabama Department of Transportation announced this week that the I-59/20 bridge replacement project, which began more than a year ago, could be completed by Saturday.
A dedication of the bridges with Governor Kay Ivey is scheduled for Friday, January 17. The contractor told ALDOT the bridges could be open as early as Saturday, according to a statement by ALDOT Monday.
According to ABC 33/40 traffic reporter Erica Lopez, if weather permits, the bridges will open Saturday, but work still remains on the roadways that will continue through the remainder of the year.
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The new I-59/20 bridge could open as early as this weekend (weather permitting) — tentative open date is Jan 21, 1 week from today! #traffic #birmingham pic.twitter.com/J8q5yn3gu2
— Erica Lopez (@EricaLopezTV) January 14, 2020
If the project finishes by the end of January, the contractor, Johnson Brothers Corp., earns a $15 million bonus, and Leonard said work is being done around the clock. ALDOT gave Johnson Brothers until March 21 to have the bridges open, or be fined $250,000 each day the bridge opening was delayed.
Conversely, the contractor will receive a $250,000 bonus for each day the project is finished before March 21.
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