Interstate 22

[codyg1985]

i also hope US 78 is rerouted back onto its former alignment, but since AASHTO tends to frown upon that, I don't see that ever happening.

AASHTO has approved a US 78 Alt. from Hamilton to Graysville, practically the entire length of I-22 in Alabama. ALDOT can always pull a North Carolina and forget the plates.

That is what I am hoping will happen.

[codyg1985]

ALDOT has the project on their February 27th letting to let the base, paving, and signing on I-22 between CR 77 and I-65. There are also plans to redo some of the signing between the Graysville AL 5 interchange and CR 77. From looking at the signing plans (which start on Page 46 of the PDF), things aren't made more consistent or less confusing.

- Going eastbound on I-22 approaching the AL 5 interchange, US 78 is signed as the main route at the exit, but going westbound, it is AL 4, with no mention of AL 5 whatsoever.
- The entire length of I-22 east of AL 5 will be cosigned with US 78, but at the I-65 interchange, US 78 just disappears. Right now US 78 is cosigned with AL 5 from I-22 southeast to its present alignment at US 11.
- Jasper is still used as a control city for I-22 westbound, instead of Tupelo or Memphis.
- No mileage signs are being added as part of the plans.
- OAPL signs will be used along I-22 approaching I-65, but there aren't any signs being installed that say TO I-20 and I-59, which, to me, would make sense in this case.

I really think it is ridiculous that ALDOT can't get the signage halfway decent along I-22.

[lordsutch]

ALDOT has the project on their February 27th letting to let the base, paving, and signing on I-22 between CR 77 and I-65. There are also plans to redo some of the signing between the Graysville AL 5 interchange and CR 77. From looking at the signing plans (which start on Page 46 of the PDF), things aren't made more consistent or less confusing.

- Going eastbound on I-22 approaching the AL 5 interchange, US 78 is signed as the main route at the exit, but going westbound, it is AL 4, with no mention of AL 5 whatsoever.

Those are retained signs from what's already posted, not new signs. I think it's a typo in the plan sheets; westbound the sign is currently for AL 5, not AL 4. The only new guide signs are those illustrated on plan sheets 100 and 101 (122/123 of the PDF). Since they can't install the new signs until the route is complete to I-65 and they can move US 78, I'd imagine that's when the Exit 85 signs will be replaced.

As for the cross-road signage, it's not exactly unusual to post a local destination rather than a long-distance control city for traffic entering from local roads like CR 77; they're far more likely to be headed to Jasper than Memphis, after all. And again they're retained signs, not new fabs.

Also of note: they're raising the speed limit from 65 to 70, and it appears the signs on I-65 are part of a separate project.

[codyg1985]

Also of note: they're raising the speed limit from 65 to 70, and it appears the signs on I-65 are part of a separate project.

Those signs are to be installed as part of the I-22/65 interchange project, but the I-22 signs are to be covered up until the paving project is complete.

[codyg1985]

The latest pictures from the I-22/I-65 interchange construction: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/02/interstate_65_plan_for_heavy_m.html

[MikeSantNY78]

The latest pictures from the I-22/I-65 interchange construction: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/02/interstate_65_plan_for_heavy_m.html

Nice to see they're doing something at the I-65 end; nicer if they can get the Coalburg to I-65 part of I-22 done on time as well...

[NE2]

Don't think anyone's posted photos of signs yet:


from http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/15306956713/

[formulanone]

There's a few from last February...

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=724.msg281092#msg281092

[msunat97]

Does anyone really think this is completed in August as indicated in the article linked by codyg1985?

[Charles2]

Went through the I-22 I-65 construction zone today. If I'm wrong, please, someone correct me, but I see no way this project will be finished by August of this year. And isn't that the new date to be finished? There is a lot of unfinished work there.

I drove through there today for the first time in about a month and thought the same thing.  I saw a fair amount of progress from my last trip through there, but I'm rather skeptical that the 22/65 interchange will be finished in seven months, much less the new ramp from US 31 north onto I-65 north. 

A couple of questions that maybe someone knows the answer to: (1) What is the status of the connection between I-22 and US 31?  Will that be a separate project? (2)  Will the existing exit from I-65 S onto US 31 remain, or will it be torn down?

I answered part of my own question when I drove out to see the progress last weekend.  The existing exit from I-65 onto US 31 will be incorporated into a C/D exit from I-65 S onto I-22 W; similarly, the ramp from US 31 onto I-65 is being incorporated into the same C/D.

[rcm195]

Local Jasper, Al newspaper, The Daily Mountian Eagle(yeah, I know, it's a mouth full), had an interview with an ALDOT official in Wed. paper. Wallace McAdory said the interchange would be completed between Oct. and Nov. of this year. So, I guess we shall see.

He also was talking about ALDOT redoing there districts? What's that all about?

[codyg1985]

He also was talking about ALDOT redoing there districts? What's that all about?

http://www.annistonstar.com/news/article_cd41c014-0d3d-11e4-a24a-001a4bcf887a.html

[Charles2]

Could the end finally be in sight?

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/aldot_receives_bid_to_pave_the.html#incart_river

[rcm195]

Yeah, just saw the same article a few minutes ago. One can only hope. Given the troubles with the flyovers, I for one, when it is open for traffic, would make all the ALDOT officials and the guys at Archer Western ride over them first.....just to be on the safe side!

[ARMOURERERIC]

With the sequencing of construction, how hard would it be to get the 22e to 65s ramp open?  Would that not be a big help?

[Charles2]

With the sequencing of construction, how hard would it be to get the 22e to 65s ramp open?  Would that not be a big help?

In a perfect world, yes it would.  But the rebuild of SB I-65 is nowhere near being complete.  Remember, we're talking about Alabama, where any and all highway construction makes no sense whatsoever.

[Tourian]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/interstate_22_interchange_on_t.html#incart_river

Late August they say...but that doesn't include the paving of the last section up to the interchange.

[Charles2]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/interstate_22_interchange_on_t.html#incart_river

Late August they say...but that doesn't include the paving of the last section up to the interchange.

Late August...but they didn't say what year!   

[freebrickproductions]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/interstate_22_interchange_on_t.html#incart_river

Late August they say...but that doesn't include the paving of the last section up to the interchange.

Late August...but they didn't say what year!   

Late August of 2064.

[codyg1985]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/interstate_22_interchange_on_t.html#incart_river

Late August they say...but that doesn't include the paving of the last section up to the interchange.

At least the paving part should be a straightforward piece compared to the behemoth that has been the interchange. I am optimistic that they will finish paving by the end of the year, since they don't have to place a very long stretch of pavement.

[cjk374]

I'll be headed to Huntsville tomorrow to see this major interchange work for myself.  Is the construction zone a booger to deal with?

[codyg1985]

I'll be headed to Huntsville tomorrow to see this major interchange work for myself.  Is the construction zone a booger to deal with?

It depends on the weekend. This weekend, there will be double lane closures southbound on I-65 between 5 AM and 8 AM on Saturday related to the I-22 interchange construction: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/heavy_delays_double_lane_closu.html#incart_river

I wished I was in town (I live in Huntsville) so that we could meet up, but, alas, maybe another time.

[Henry]

I read that US 31, the road that runs parallel to I-65, is also under construction, so there's double-jeopardy in that area. There ought to be a better alternative to these two roads close by...

[cjk374]

I'll be headed to Huntsville tomorrow to see this major interchange work for myself.  Is the construction zone a booger to deal with?

It depends on the weekend. This weekend, there will be double lane closures southbound on I-65 between 5 AM and 8 AM on Saturday related to the I-22 interchange construction: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/03/heavy_delays_double_lane_closu.html#incart_river

I wished I was in town (I live in Huntsville) so that we could meet up, but, alas, maybe another time.

Another time indeed Cody. 

Crews will cut out sections of damaged pavement and pouring new concrete, which requires enough time to settle and dry properly, according to ALDOT. The work will be done as weather cooperates.

The lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday.

In Louisiana's and Arkansas' construction spec books, no one is to drive on newly poured slabs for 7 days for concrete curing.  Is AL using a quicker curing concrete or is this in their spec book? 

[codyg1985]

I am not sure what exactly they use, but I suspect they add a type of cement that reacts quicker as well as an admixture that speeds up the curing time. I have seen this done in a few areas where concrete has been placed. The side effect of it is that there may be shrinkage cracking due to the speed of the reaction (and the heat generated by it).