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CHAMBERS COUNTY – The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is in the process of reconstructing I-85 at the US-29 Interchange (Exit 79). 

Phase 1 construction on the I-85 southbound Exit Ramp, US-29 Entrance Ramp to I-85 northbound, and the current detour route is nearing completion.

Weather permitting, ALDOT will begin Phase II construction on Thursday, April 18. During this phase, asphalt will be removed from the ramps and US-29. The asphalt will be replaced with concrete pavement. This work will require US-29 northbound and US-29 southbound travel lanes to be reduced to one lane, per direction. 

US-29 travel lanes will be shifted and the following I-85 ramps will be closed: I-85 northbound exit ramp to US-29 and US-29 entrance ramp to I-85 southbound. This will mirror the construction of Phase I, lasting approximately six weeks.

A detour route utilizing I-85 and GA-18 (Exit 2), near West Point, will be in effect during the ramp closures. The ramp closures, lane closures, and lane shifts will remain in place until the completion of Phase II. 

The third phase of the project will not require detours or closures. 

Phase I of the project, which started in February and is set to end in early May has exceeded the original six-week time frame. 

However, ALDOT Operations Engineer Shannon Jones told the Valley Lions Club that the department has, “learned a lot and worked out the kinks. I don’t think the second side will be as difficult as the first one.”

The lane closures have affected the businesses in the area, which have been cut off from the highway travel. 

In previous VTN reporting, the Lanett Raceway has faced decreased hours and potential layoffs due to slow business since the construction began. 

Motorists are requested to consider using alternate routes, adjust arrival or departure times, observe work zone speed limits and other work zone signs, and use extreme caution in this area. 

ALDOT thanks motorists for their patience during this maintenance operation on Alabama’s roadways. For further information, visit ALDOT’s website at www.dot.state.al.us.