When the new Toyota-Mazda manufacturing plant opens in 2020, traffic on Interstate 565 east at the Greenbrier Road interchange could increase substantially.

However, a planned improvement to the interchange should alleviate concerns, an official said this week. It’s unknown when the project will begin or how long it may take to complete.

Seth Burkett, spokesman for the Alabama Department of Transportation, said Reed Contracting submitted the low bid on the $10.2 million project. He said the 1.3-mile project was already in the works before the $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda project was announced.

“When that deal materialized, (ALDOT) committed to advancing the project,” he said.

The crux of the project is to reconfigure how traffic exits Interstate 565 onto Greenbrier Road. The Toyota-Mazda plant is being constructed just north of the intersection of Greenbrier Road and Old Highway 20.

When the project is completed, eastbound traffic will exit onto a road that forks to two ramps. Southbound traffic will split off east of Greenbrier Road and connect to southbound Greenbrier Road.

For traffic heading northbound on Greenbrier Road, the road will continue under the overpass bridge and along a retaining wall to a ramp that loops back west to the northbound side of Greenbrier Road.

Burkett said the off-ramp loop would be across the footprint of the current on-ramp to I-565 east. Because of that, the on-ramp for northbound and southbound to eastbound will be moved farther south and will follow the curve of the northbound off-ramp.

“We believe this will address some traffic flow and safety issues that would otherwise be compounded by additional traffic from Toyota-Mazda and any other development in the area,” Burkett said.

He said the new on-ramp would have to be built before the off-ramp loop. There may be restrictions on lane closures during peak travel times.

“Most of the construction effects will be limited to motorists using Greenbrier Road and the interchange,” he said. “We don’t anticipate much impact on I-565 through traffic because most of the work will be occurring off the main roadway.”

Though Reed submitted the lowest bid, the project has not yet been awarded. ALDOT must review the bid, and bonds must be secured before a notice to proceed will be given. Burkett said that process takes 60-120 days.