Drivers on Interstate 59 in northern Etowah and southern DeKalb counties should plan for major delays Friday, December 19.
ALDOT will close about 17 miles of I-59 between Exit 188 at Reece City and Exit 205 at Collinsville from 8 am to 3 pm Friday for repairs to the northbound roadway. Both directions of traffic have been sharing the northbound lanes during ongoing reconstruction of the southbound roadway by Vulcan Materials. Repairs will also be made to the northbound bridge over Stevens Gap Road.
Traffic will be detoured via U.S. 11 and state routes 211 and 68. Northbound drivers will exit at 188, follow SR-211 north to US-11 north to SR-68 west, then return to I-59 at Exit 205. Southbound drivers will exit at 205, follow SR-68 east to US-11 south to SR-211 south, then rejoin I-59 at Exit 188.
ALDOT advises drivers to expect delays, plan extra travel time, and check real-time conditions at ALGOtraffic.com or via the ALGO Traffic app.
The $40.7 million southbound reconstruction project began this spring and is expected to be completed in spring 2027. A new project to replace and rehabilitate part of I-59 in DeKalb County was recently bid, bringing total reconstruction contracts for I-59 in Etowah and DeKalb counties to nearly $240 million.
