BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham City Council members this afternoon will meet with Alabama Department of Transportation officials to get more details and express opposition over the state's plans to overhaul Interstate 20/59 and nearby roads downtown

The $300 million project, which includes replacing the current 20/59 bridge and closing some existing exits, has stirred criticism from some residents and business owners, who say the plans would damage downtown Birmingham by routing traffic away from the city center.

Several council members have railed against both the plan and what they call minimal sharing of information during its conception.

Today's meeting is the result.

"What they want and what the city wants are two different things," said Councilwoman Valerie Abbott. "They don't care at all about economic development and business. Well, the city cares a whole lot about economic development and business."

The current ALDOT proposal removes the exit ramps for the 20/59 bridges and makes 11th Avenue North the main artery from the interstate to downtown.

Other changes include new ramps and overpasses to direct downtown traffic over Malfunction Junction to 11th Avenue. Westbound 20/59 drivers would exit at 31st Street to 11th Avenue for downtown access. The eastbound 31st Street exit would be closed.

While Mayor William Bell's office has been in contact with ALDOT, council members said they need information to share with their constituents.

Abbott and others said they were told by Bell's office that the closed interstate exists would be temporary. But word to the contrary has brought strong concern.

"It's like 'let's see how fast we can let these people go as they pass though,'" Abbott said of the current proposal. "We've got to get some kind of meeting of the minds about how all this is going to work. Their goal and our goal don't seem to match yet. But I'm sure they're going to work to match things up better."

Councilwoman Maxine Parker called the afternoon meeting a positive step.

"I'm looking forward to the meeting, and I'm very pleased they could accommodate the council and get the council's input into what they are doing," she said. "These are preliminary plans and we want to make sure our concerns are included."