Trucking through a section in the Heart of Dixie will be more complicated starting Monday, April 8 That’s when the first phase of major reconstruction project begins along Interstate 20 in Alabama.

Weather permitting, the Alabama Department of Transportation will close the eastbound lanes for 10 miles between the I-20/59 split near the Birmingham airport and Interstate 459, roughly affecting exits 130 through 136. Westbound lanes will also be closed.

Eastbound I-20 traffic will be diverted north along I-59, then take I-459 southbound in Trussville to reconnect with I-20 near Irondale and Leeds, east of Birmingham. Westbound I-20 traffic will I-459 northbound to Trussville and then take I-59 south. This is expected to make rush hour traffic along the detour routes more intense than usual.

The state DOT estimates about 72,000 vehicles travel this section every day.

Once work on the eastbound lanes is completed work will then being on the westbound side.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the early winter.

ALDOT has been working on a series of projects along I-20 in Alabama, including major road widening and bridge reconstruction projects further east of Birmingham that include detours for oversize loads