Replacement of the US-43/US-72/Mitchell Boulevard bridge over SR-20 in Florence will begin soon. ALDOT advises motorists to prepare for lane closures and detours for the next two years, during demolition of the 88-year-old bridge and construction of a larger, safer bridge in its place.
The Mitchell Boulevard bridge is about half a mile north of the O’Neal Bridge, the Tennessee River crossing between Sheffield and Florence traveled by about 30,000 vehicles daily.
Contractor Miller & Miller anticipates starting work on the $7.2 million project Monday, March 2, weather permitting.
Lane closures
- Beginning with the start of work, US-43 southbound/US-72 westbound will be reduced to one lane. This lane reduction will remain in place around the clock for the duration of the project. Throughout construction, US-43 southbound/US-72 westbound traffic will continue to use the Mitchell Boulevard bridge. In early phases of construction, traffic will cross the old bridge. In later phases, it will transition to part of the new bridge.
- Beginning with the start of work, US-43 northbound/US-72 eastbound will be subject to daytime single-lane closures while the contractor removes concrete barriers and constructs widening for the future detour route.
Detours
- Beginning with the start of work, SR-20 under the bridge will be closed. Traffic from US-43 northbound/US-72 eastbound headed for SR-20 westbound will detour to West Dr. Hicks Boulevard to South Pine Street to SR-20. The US-43 southbound/US-72 westbound ramps to and from SR-20 will remain open.
- Beginning about mid-March, US-43 northbound/US-72 eastbound traffic will be rerouted to the ramp to SR-20, east on Coffee Road, then north on South Court Street, returning to US-43/US-72 south of Veterans Drive. All roads on the detour will be converted to one-way, serving northbound/eastbound traffic only.
City street closures
- Bluff Street and South Seminary Street will both be closed at their intersections with South Court Street. South Court Street south of Coffee Road will also be closed. Traffic can access the part of South Court Street south of the closure, as well as Canal Street and Illinois Street, via South Poplar Street from Veterans Drive.
- The Mitchell Boulevard frontage road will be accessible to southbound/westbound traffic via a temporary left turn lane at Melinda Drive. The frontage road will be closed to southbound traffic at Coffee Road, but northbound traffic will be allowed to enter the detour route from the frontage road.
- Crest Street, a short connection between Mitchell Boulevard and South Pine Street, has been permanently closed.
Alternate route
ALDOT advises motorists, particularly commercial traffic, to cross the Tennessee River via the Singing River Bridge on SR-133/SR-157 instead of taking the US-43/US-72 corridor. Message boards posted at key intersections will suggest this alternate to motorists.
For real time road condition and traffic information, visit ALGOTraffic.com.
