Painting of the Veterans Memorial Bridges on US-431 over the Tennessee River in Guntersville may begin next week.
ALDOT’s contractor, Cekra Inc., will paint the structural steel and rails of both half-mile long bridges. The faded green will be coated with battleship gray. The $6.7 million project will also include repairs to joints on the northbound bridge.
The deadline for completion is Dec. 1.
Keeping traffic flowing
In planning for the project, ALDOT made provisions for the roughly 20,000 vehicles crossing the bridges daily. The traffic control plan will shift the US-431 travel lanes for the duration of the project, allowing all lanes to remain open at most times. The contractor will stage rigging and painting work from the closed shoulder on each bridge.
However, single-lane closures will still be necessary for certain work items, such as the joint repairs. ALDOT restricted these lane closures to non-peak travel times.
ALDOT advises motorists to also expect single-lane closures at the start of the project, during installation of traffic control.
For real-time traffic and road condition information, visit ALGOtraffic.com or download the ALGO Traffic app.
Extending lifespan
In addition to its aesthetic benefits, paint helps protect steel parts from the elements and can extend a bridge’s lifespan.
The northbound bridge was constructed in 1977. The southbound bridge was built in 1994.
