ATHENS — Drainage work at a main intersection Athens will affect motorists on U.S. 31, Elm Street and I-65 today, the Alabama Department of Transportation said.

ALDOT crews are making drainage improvements at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Alabama Highway 99/Elm Street in Athens and U.S. 31 will be closed in both directions between Highway 99 and I-65.

Traffic intending to travel north on U.S. 31 will be rerouted to U.S. 72 and I-65.

The southbound off-ramp from I-65 at Exit 354 will be closed. I-65 traffic bound for U.S. 31 will be detoured to U.S. at Exit 351.

Work was to start about 8 a.m. and ALDOT said it anticipates reopening U.S. 31 about 3 p.m.