I-59/20 Bridges Could Open This Weekend

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.

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.