Ongoing efforts to build a new interchange at the Greenbrier Road exit off Interstate 565 are proceeding as planned, an official said this week.

Seth Burkett, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Transportation, said the project will likely wrap up late this year or early next year. Reed Contracting was awarded the bid on the $10.2 million project, which should ease traffic congestion to Greenbrier Road when the $1.6 billion Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A. plant opens in 2021.

Despite an unusually wet winter, Burkett said the project was on schedule. In the meantime, drivers will have to continue to abide by a 60 mph speed limit through the work zone and a lane shift.

“Right now, they’re relocating sewer lines and milling the old ramp from eastbound 565,” Burkett said. “They’re also doing the earthwork for Ramp B, which goes along the retaining wall and wraps back around to Greenbrier Road for northbound traffic.”

U.S. 72 improvement

Burkett was also asked about the outcome of a recent public meeting concerning safety improvements on U.S. 72 from milepost 82 (Bradford/Branch roads) to milepost 85.5 (Burgreen/Dupree Worthey roads). The meeting was held March 19 at East Limestone High School.

Burkett said ALDOT officials would review all the public comments from the meeting, but added there was no timeline for improvements. He explained those likely wouldn’t happen all at once and would instead be tied to a few projects, including resurfacing.