Most everyone has heard of the cave in alongside I-65 near Priceville. The Alabama DOT has been detouring northbound traffic around the collapse for a week and there are some signs that the work may be progressing well enough to reopen one northbound lane within 2 to 5 days, weather permitting. The heavy rains in the area have also created a landslide less than 200 feet from the sinkhole and that is also creating issues for road workers and drivers alike.
Anyone heading to the Huntsville area or to Tennessee should expect delays because of the detour.
Northbound vehicles must exit at mile markers 325 or 328. Highway 31 is the primary northbound detour route west of I-65. Please use caution if you are in that area.
UPDATE:
At 6:30 PM, Friday, March 26, ALDOT reopened the stretch of Interstate 65 that had been closed since March 17 because of a very large sink hole in the highway right of way. ALDOT officials had detoured northbound I-65 traffic onto Highway 31 for roughly 10 days and this caused frequent backup’s and significant delays for northbound Interstate travelers.
Officials have a concrete barrier in place at the location as well as a lane shift and a reduced speed limit in that area. The ALDOT engineers are also watching a depression close to the first one as well as a potential landslide area roughly 200 feet from the original sink hole.
Heavy rains in the area several days before the incident took place contributed to the problem as well as more heavy rains preventing repair work for several days after the incident.