Motorists traveling Interstate 59 through Trussville, Ala., once again can access the northbound entrance and exit ramps at Chalkville Mountain Road (Exit 141) after the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) reopened the ramps June 26, several days ahead of schedule.
The ramps had been closed since May 18 while contractor Wiregrass Construction rebuilt the interchange as part of ALDOT's ongoing $70.4 million reconstruction and widening of I-59 between the I-459 interchange and Chalkville Mountain Road. The contractor completed the work before the end of the 40-day incentive period established by ALDOT, reducing disruptions for commuters traveling one of the Birmingham area's busiest corridors.
The reopening marks another milestone in ALDOT's 3.8-mi. reconstruction project, which is designed to improve safety and relieve congestion on a section of interstate that carries more than 135,000 vehicles daily. Todd Connell, ALDOT construction engineer, previously told Construction Equipment Guide that traffic routinely backs up during peak travel periods, making the widening one of the agency's most significant mobility improvements in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Construction began in late 2024 after ALDOT determined the nearly 50-year-old roadway had reached the end of its service life. Rather than resurfacing the interstate, the department elected to completely reconstruct the corridor while widening it from four lanes to six. When complete, the highway will feature three 12-ft.-wide travel lanes in each direction with full-width shoulders to improve both traffic flow and safety.
The project extends from the I-459 interchange to the Chalkville Mountain Road overpass and includes substantially more than lane additions. Crews are reconstructing the interstate pavement, performing approximately 90,000 cu. yds. of excavation, upgrading drainage infrastructure, installing new lighting and highway signage, rebuilding the Chalkville Mountain Road interchange ramps, replacing bridge decks over Edwards Lake Road and making pavement improvements on portions of I-459 approaching the interchange.
Another significant element of the project is ALDOT's use of rubblization, a process that fractures the existing concrete pavement into a stable base before new asphalt pavement is placed. The method allows contractors to recycle the existing roadway structure while reducing demolition and disposal costs and accelerating construction.
Throughout construction, ALDOT has maintained traffic by completing the work in phases. Two lanes generally remain open in each direction during daytime hours, with overnight lane closures used when necessary. Traffic has periodically shifted as crews reconstruct one side of the interstate before moving operations to the opposite side.
With the northbound ramps now reopened, Wiregrass Construction is focused on completing work needed to shift traffic onto the newly constructed northbound roadway. ALDOT said the contractor has approximately three months to reach that milestone, which carries a $1 million incentive payment for on-time completion.
The overall project remains on schedule for completion in early 2027. Once finished, the reconstructed corridor is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and provide a safer, longer-lasting interstate connection for commuters and commercial traffic traveling through northeast Jefferson County. CEG
