The widening of I-565 in Limestone County – a much anticipated project expected to alleviate daily traffic bottlenecks for commuters – is still on schedule for 2020 construction.

Seth Burkett, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Transportation, said the project is still moving forward as anticipated.

"We think we will probably begin that project in spring or summer of 2020," Burkett said Thursday. "We'll be able to move ahead with that project pretty quickly. I think it will be complete before 2021."

The widening of the interstate spur that connects Huntsville to I-65 has been a source of much consternation for Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle as his city continues to grow and has attracted industry bringing thousands of new jobs to the Tennessee Valley.

And the announcement in April from Gov. Kay Ivey came almost out of the blue that the widening project was a definite go. The project gained momentum once ALDOT officials confirmed that the highway’s existing shoulders could be new for additional traffic lanes, which translated into a dramatically lower price tag.

I-565 will be widened from four lanes to six beginning just west of County Line Road in Limestone County and stretch about 7 miles to the west to I-65.

The $17 million project is the first to be announced as being funded by the state's newly increased gas tax, which has been branded "Rebuild Alabama."

The expected completion date would be ahead of the planned opening of the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA plant – and it's 4,000 employees -- not far from what will be the newly-widened highway.

Burkett said that once the project begins, it should be only a matter of months before it's completed.

Even though the project will be relatively simple, Burkett said more planning still needs to be wrapped up before the work begins. There is also the matter that the state won't begin collecting the additional gas tax money until October.

"We can't just get out there immediately," Burkett said.

At a news conference Thursday to give updates on numerous road projects in the Huntsville area, Battle said drivers should be patient maneuvering through construction areas and watch their speed no matter where they are.

The mayor even said he's been known to flash his headlights or honk his horn at drivers zooming past him.

"They send me signals back every once in a while," Battle said. "It's very important to us that everybody just takes it a little bit easier."

Another major road project is scheduled to begin Monday with the widening of Research Park Boulevard in west Huntsville.

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