Trucking companies fear driving time through Birmingham could double or even quadruple when the Alabama Department of Transportation closes the Interstate 59/20 bridges for demolition and replacement next year.

"In our business, time is everything," said Buck Moore, president of Birmingham-based Buddy Moore Trucking. "We have 11 hours a day we can legally operate a truck. If it takes one or two hours to get through downtown Birmingham, that is money. "

As Birmingham's city center represents the largest concentration of jobs in Alabama, the closure of the bridges is expected to cause longer travel times for motorists and additional headaches for people driving in or near downtown over the next few years.

"It is going to be a nightmare for us," Moore said, adding he's afraid it could be virtually impossible for his truckers to drive west through downtown.

Buddy Moore Trucking currently has about 30 trucks traveling back and forth each day from their east Birmingham headquarters to customers such as U.S. Pipe in Bessemer, U.S. Steel in Fairfield and American Cast Iron Pipe in west Birmingham.

That won't be possible when the bridges close in fall 2018, Moore said. Detours would require trucks to travel 30 miles out of the way or transverse congested city streets.

The company is considering leasing some property on the west side of the city to serve as a drop yard for trucks transporting pipe, steel and building products, he said.

"We don't need any lost time," Moore said.

When the I-59/20 Central Business District bridges close, ALDOT said commuters can use Interstate 65 to drive through Birmingham and I-459 to get around the city. AAA Alabama is also recommending motorists use I-459, if possible, once the bridges close.

The elevated portions of Interstate 20/59 through downtown Birmingham's Central Business District will be demolished in fall 2018 and replaced. The bridges will be closed for about 14 months.

ALDOT Director John Cooper said the closure "is going to be a problem at its very best."



He said tractor-trailers making local deliveries will be able to take Finley Boulevard, Highway 31 and I-459.

"There are ways around," Cooper said, adding that it may just take more time to drive through the city.

ALDOT regional engineer DeJarvis Leonard said ALDOT has had discussions with with members of the Birmingham trucking industry, and they will continue to meeting with them.

While traffic congestion is expected, ALDOT and other business officials say the bridge replacement has to happen.

"Improvements to I-20/59, including the bridges and ramps that serve downtown Birmingham, are part of the natural evolution of a progressive city," said Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance. "During the construction period, we anticipate longer than normal commute times for people who work and visit downtown, although we also know that our current commute times are short compared to most other large metros.

Birmingham is also a major regional distribution hub, and we expect trucks traveling in the I-20/59 area to be impacted by the construction," he added. "Our discussions with ALDOT officials have always emphasized the importance of improving the safety and efficiency of our downtown transportation infrastructure, and while the construction delays may be noticeable, we expect the finished product to significantly improve transportation in the downtown area."

Tommy Neely, president of Birmingham-based trucking company Ross Neely Systems, agreed that the bridge closure will be a "headache" for truckers.

"It is going to be a pain," he said. "We are just going to have to prepare for delays the best way we can."

The closures, though, will inevitably mean higher fuel costs and difficulty meeting delivery times, Neely said.

Neely said he hopes ALDOT will release detour routes for truckers as many downtown Birmingham streets can't be traversed by 18-wheelers.

Outside of the trucking industry, few of the major downtown Birmingham-based businesses contacted by AL.com appear to be putting measures in place to cope with potential traffic delays due to the closure of the I-59/20 bridges.

The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau is working with local tourist attractions, hotels and entertainment venues to keep the traveling public and visitors aware of construction and best routes for travel during the closure, said Dilcy Windham Hilley, vice president of marketing and communications for the group.

Representatives from both Alabama Power and Regions Bank said employees have been notified of the pending road work.

Aaron Schmidt, Spire Energy spokesperson, said: "At Alagasco, we provide flexible work schedules for many employees to help ease rush hour travel times. Our employees will be able to use alternate routes in and out of downtown to avoid the bridge closure. While we haven't discussed detours and traffic with ALDOT, we are working with them on the relocation of our gas lines that are impacted by the construction work."

Children's of Alabama spokesperson Garland Stansell: "We have begun to think about how to prepare staff members aware of the repairs/closure so that they can make route adjustments as that they can arrive at work safely and timely throughout the interruption. At present, we are not preparing any communication related to patients and visitors."

Jim Bakken, assistant vice president for public relations at UAB, said it's still early, but UAB Health System has begun planning on how to deal with the bridge closures and resulting traffic delays.

"The Health System has already been communicating with Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System and Emergency Medical Services groups that serve UAB Medicine for patient delivery, and we will continue to coordinate with them and the Trauma Communications Center," he said. "Service providers indicate they deal with road blocks and closures routinely, and most drivers are used to finding re-routes to reach their destinations.

"As we get closer, we anticipate area electronic billboards being used by ALDOT to help broadcast the detours and road closures," he added.

Updated at 4:02 p.m. to include comments from ALDOT Director John Cooper and regional engineer DeJarvis Leonard.