Traffic patterns change on US 72/Florence Boulevard

FLORENCE — Motorists should expect nighttime delays and brief stoppages on U.S. 72/Florence Boulevard as traffic patterns change for the next phase of the $24 million widening project in Lauderdale County.

The contractor will shift traffic to the outside lanes, including the new additional lanes, tonight, the Alabama Department of Transportation said.

Barrier installation

Following the traffic shift, the contractor will install concrete barriers to protect work areas in the center of the highway. Initially, they will place barriers for about one mile at the east end of the project. This phase will include closure and permanent removal of some median crossovers but closure of signalized intersections.

After barrier installation, the contractor, Grayson Carter and Son, will begin work on the inside lanes, medians and crossovers.

BUILD grant project

The project to expand two miles of four-lane highway from Indian Springs Drive to Sky Park Road, west of Shoal Creek, to six lanes began in late 2023. ALDOT said it anticipates completion in summer 2026.

Funding for the project includes a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant obtained by Lauderdale County as well as a combination of state and other federal funding.

Lane closures less often

Following work to shift traffic and install barriers, there will remain a possibility of single-lane closures from 6 p.m. 6 a.m., Sunday nights through Thursday nights. However, ALDOT expects such lane closures to occur infrequently for the remainder of this year.

Furthermore, the contractor will typically maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction during the daytime.

Visit ALGOtraffic.com or download the ALGO Traffic app for real-time traffic and road condition information.