Expect daytime lane closures on US-72/Florence Boulevard in Lauderdale County for about two weeks beginning Wednesday, June 24, weather permitting.
Additionally, there will be a brief traffic stoppage Wednesday evening for traffic signal work.
Daytime lane closures
ALDOT will allow Grayson Carter and Son Contracting to work during the daytime to complete asphalt leveling for the roadway widening.
To minimize impacts to traffic, ALDOT will limit lane closures to the following timeframes:
- Eastbound lane closures only from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Westbound lane closures only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Flaggers will be onsite to assist with traffic control when paving operations are near the intersections of US-72 with Indian Springs and Harris Drive.
Nearing completion
The $24 million project to expand two miles of four-lane highway to six lanes from Indian Springs Drive to Sky Park Road, west of Shoal Creek, began in late 2023.
Initially, the contractor widened to the outside of the highway, including construction of drainage, slopes, and retaining walls.
After shifting traffic to the newly-constructed outside lanes in August, the contractor and subcontractors excavated medians, installed drainage and paved concrete islands, curbs and gutters.
Now the contractor must place asphalt to match the grades of the new and pre-existing pavements. Once leveling is complete, the contractor can pave the final wearing surface on all lanes of the project.
ALDOT anticipates completion of all paving this summer.
New traffic signals
Plans for two new traffic signals on Florence Boulevard were added to the widening project after it began. Installations are subject to fabrication times for poles and other materials.
The signal at the Lauderdale County Agricultural Center will be installed this summer and operational prior to the start of school. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, subcontractor Shoals Electric will stop traffic on all lanes of US-72 near Mauldin Avenue for 15 to 20 minutes while pulling cable across the highway for the future traffic signal.
A second signal, at Mary Lee Drive, will be installed in early fall.
BUILD grant
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.
