ALDOT issues $500,000 per day fine for I-59/20 South Malfunction Junction delays https://t.co/PtzFzCvzJR pic.twitter.com/LQyseAi5c7
— AL.com (@aldotcom) April 9, 2018
Truckers traveling through downtown Birmingham, Ala., could face delays at least through Wednesday as Alabama Department of Transportation crews have closed I-20/59 Southbound at the I-65 interchange.
The closure is the result of a “safety occurrence” that happened while installing a steel girder during a construction project, ALDOT says. The agency says it decided to close the section of interstate after the incident occurred overnight on Thursday, April 5.
The interstate will be closed through at least Wednesday, April 11. ALDOT advises drivers to avoid the I-59/I-65 interchange if possible. All traffic on I-59/20 is being detoured onto I-65 North to the 16th Street exit, then back on I-59/20 South towards Tuscaloosa. Drivers can also use I-459 to avoid the closure.
ALDOT says it is fining the contractor $500,000 per day until the interstate is reopened.