New lanes: ALDOT launching I-85 expansion project in Montgomery

Big relief is on the way for east Montgomery commuters. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is launching a $71 million capacity-improvement project along Interstate 85, widening the roadway to three lanes in each direction to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

Here is everything you need to know about what’s coming, including timeline details, bridge replacements and temporary ramp detours.

What the I-85 Montgomery expansion includes

ALDOT says the contract was awarded to Birmingham-based APAC-Alabama, Inc., with an estimated timeline of three and a half years to completion. Main construction kicks off on Monday, Oct. 5, though preliminary utility relocations will begin sooner and will require rolling roadblocks during an early Sunday morning (ALDOT will announce the exact date in advance).

The primary goal of the project is to expand I-85 in Montgomery from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. This expansion will stretch from where the existing three-lane section ends near Taylor Road all the way to Jenkins Creek, just north of Exit 11 (Mitylene and Mt. Meigs).

In addition to adding lane capacity, the project includes:

• Replacing four bridges along I-85 (two over Chantilly Parkway and two over the Kershaw Railroad).
• Widening Chantilly Parkway lanes and adding an extra left-turn lane for drivers accessing I-85 South

Temporary detours on Chantilly Parkway during I-85 construction

To keep traffic moving smoothly and maintain work zone safety during bridge construction, drivers will navigate temporary ramp access changes at the Chantilly Parkway. While off-ramps will keep full left-turn access, left turns from Chantilly Parkway onto interstate entrance ramps will be temporarily restricted:

• Westbound traffic seeking I-85 South: Drivers will continue on Chantilly Parkway to Arrowhead Drive, make a U-turn (guided by a temporary traffic signal) and head eastbound back to the entrance ramp.
• Eastbound traffic seeking I-85 North: Drivers will use the existing U-turn bulb at Eastchase Parkway to return westbound to the entrance ramp.

To minimize disruption, ALDOT officials say lane closures on I-85 will be restricted to overnight hours, Sunday through Thursday from 7PM-5AM. While drivers will continue to travel underneath the bridges throughout most of the project, temporary weekend closures of Chantilly Parkway will be required for bridge replacements later in the schedule.

ALDOT reminds all motorists to slow down, eliminate distractions and pay close attention to reduced speed limits and workers in construction zones.

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