A portion of Interstate 59/20 through downtown Birmingham will close due to construction on Jan. 21. The closure will affect traffic flow to several landmarks the UA community uses, including Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
The Alabama Department of Transportation recommends the following detours through downtown Birmingham that go around the construction zone during the closure, which is anticipated to last 14 months.
To Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport from Tuscaloosa
Option 1 (outer loop)
- On I-59/20 East coming from Tuscaloosa, take Exit 106 to I-459 North
- Continue on I-459 North for 29 miles until you get to Exit 29 to I-20/59 to Birmingham/Atlanta
- Take Exit 29 on the right
- Shortly after taking Exit 29, keep left to merge onto I-20 West to Birmingham
- Continue on I-20 West for 7.7 miles until you get to Exit 129 to Airport Boulevard
- Take Exit 129 to Airport Boulevard
Option 2 (through downtown)
- On I-59/20 East coming from Tuscaloosa, take Exit 123 to Arkadelphia Road
- Turn left onto Arkadelphia Road and continue for 0.6 miles until you get to Finley Boulevard
- Turn right onto Finley Boulevard and continue for 2.3 miles until you get to U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard
- Turn right onto U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard and continue for 1.5 miles until you can get back on I-59/20 East
- Take I-59/20 East to Exit 129 to Airport Boulevard
To Tuscaloosa from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Option 1 (outer loop)
- On I-20 East coming from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, continue for 7 miles until you get to Exit 136 to I-459 to Montgomery/Tuscaloosa/Gadsden
- Take Exit 136 to I-459 on the right
- Shortly after taking Exit 136, keep right to merge onto I-459 South to Tuscaloosa/Montgomery
- Continue on I-459 South for 29 miles until you can merge onto I-59/20 to Tuscaloosa
- Keep left to merge onto I-59/20 to Tuscaloosa
Option 2 (through downtown)
- On I-59/20 West coming from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, take Exit 126A to U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard
- Keep right and follow the detour signs to U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard
- Turn left onto U.S. 31/Carraway Boulevard and continue for 1.5 miles until you get to Finley Boulevard
- Turn left onto Finley Boulevard and continue for 2.3 miles until you get to Arkadelphia Road
- Turn left onto Arkadelphia Road and continue for 0.4 miles until you can get back on I-59/20 West to Tuscaloosa
Use caution when using some GPS systems as they may not be updated to reflect the closures. For more information on the construction project and alternative routes, visit www.5920bridge.com.