Northbound traffic on US-43/US-72 will detour near the Mitchell Boulevard bridge beginning Wednesday, March 18.
After rerouting northbound traffic, contractor Miller & Miller can begin demolition of the northbound side of the bridge over SR-20. The $7.2 million project will replace the 88-year-old bridge one half at a time.
Northbound detour route
All US-43 northbound/US-72 eastbound traffic will divert to the ramp to SR-20 and onto a series of city streets. Traffic will head 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 function as one-way, serving northbound/eastbound traffic only.
During the initial transition of traffic to the detour Wednesday, please expect brief stoppages for striping and repositioning of traffic control devices.
Additionally, SR-20 under the bridge will close. 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.
City streets that are not part of the detour will be closed at intersections with the detour route. The exception is the Mitchell Boulevard service road, which allows northbound traffic to turn right onto the detour route.
For full details of city street closures related to the bridge replacement, please see Mitchell Boulevard bridge replacement to begin.
Southbound to stay on bridge
US-43 southbound/US-72 westbound will remain in its current configuration, crossing the bridge. The ramps for that roadway to and from SR-20 will remain open.
A temporary signal serves the turn lane from US-43 southbound/US-72 westbound to Melinda Drive and the service road.
Later phases
Northbound traffic will continue to use the detour throughout the bridge replacement.
Once construction of the northbound half of the bridge is complete, the contractor will shift southbound traffic onto the completed northbound structure, then demolish and reconstruct the southbound side of the bridge.
ALDOT anticipates completion in about two years.
One lane each way
ALDOT reminds drivers that the project has reduced the US-43/US-72 corridor to one lane in each direction in the work zone just a short distance north of the O’Neal bridge over the Tennessee River. ALDOT encourages motorists, particularly commercial traffic, to cross the river via the Singing River Bridge on SR-133/SR-157 instead. Message boards posted at key intersections will continue to suggest this alternate.
For real-time traffic and road condition information, visit ALGOtraffic.com or download the ALGO Traffic app.
