Birmingham Malfunction Junction — Rendering of Malfunction Junction in Birmingham after ALDOT completes its bridge project. Graphic by ALDOT

Clearly, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) was not happy earlier this week with the contractor in charge of the I59/I20 Bridge Replacement project, but it does look like the interstate will reopen before the Thursday morning Birmingham rush hour.

In a April 9 update on the recent closure of I-59/20 Southbound at I-65, ALDOT issued the following public apology to commuters and drivers.

The Alabama Department of Transportation apologizes to the commuters and drivers in Birmingham. We are very disappointed in the performance of our contractor on this job and we are currently fining them an average of $500,000 per day during this closure.

The good news, Bham Now spoke to Linda Crockett, the media contact for ALDOT this Wednesday morning about the status of the interstate closure.

She confirmed to us that ALDOT expects to reopen I-59/20 Southbound at I-65 late Wednesday night or Thursday morning before rush hour, if construction goes smoothly today.

ALDOT, Birmingham, Alabama, bridge, I-20/59, traffic — via Equipment World

Check the ALDOT Updates

Before drivers make plans to travel through Birmingham on Thursday, we strongly suggest readers visit the ALDOT 59/20 Bridge on Facebook or Twitter and the Updates section of their website.

Let us hope construction goes well today so there will be no delays when folks travel to work Thursday morning.