Trussville Crews on the I-59 Rebuild: Prepare for Certification

Inside the I-59 job

ALDOT awarded the contract to Wiregrass Construction of Dothan for $70,377,212. The plan adds a lane in each direction within the existing median, so the interstate’s footprint stays the same while the travel lanes and shoulders are rebuilt at 12 feet wide. Work has moved in phases: the southbound ramps at Chalkville Mountain Road (Exit 141) closed temporarily in July 2025, and in January 2026 ALDOT planned to shift northbound traffic to the outside lanes so crews could start the next stage.

Median construction squeezes equipment into a narrow strip between barrier walls. Cranes there set drainage structures, barrier sections and bridge components with traffic a few feet away. Swing radius, counterweight clearance and a clear line of communication with the signal person matter more than reach.

Traffic-side lifting habits worth knowing

• Barricade the swing radius of the counterweight, not just the boom tip; 1926.1424 addresses this hazard area.
• When the operator can’t see the load or landing, use a qualified signal person under 1926.1428, with an agreed method (hand, voice or radio).
• Check for overhead lines on frontage roads and ramps before setup; Subpart CC sets minimum clearances and planning steps for power line work.
• Expect night work, glare from passing headlights and wet pavement, all of which slow safe picks.

Beyond the interstate

Trussville sits on the upper Cahaba River at the northeast edge of Jefferson County, and growth along that side of the county keeps residential, school and commercial work moving. Not far west, ALDOT restarted work in 2024 on the first section of the Birmingham Northern Beltline, a roughly two-mile, four-lane segment with bridges between State Route 79 and State Route 75, awarded to McInnis Construction for $64.7 million and projected to finish in late 2026. Bridge building on new alignment is a natural next stop for operators who cut their teeth on I-59.

Spring storm season and humid summers set the rhythm for all of it. Thunderstorms roll in quickly in the afternoon, and the clay soils common around town lose strength when saturated, which affects outrigger placement on shoulder and embankment work.

Course picks for road and bridge work

Operators should start with mobile crane operator prep, since hydraulic truck and crawler cranes carry most highway picks. Laborers moving into rigging should take Rigger Level 1, and anyone who will direct picks over barrier walls should add signal person prep. Already certified and coming up on five years? Mobile crane recertification covers the written recert exam; 1,000 logged hours of crane-related work can waive the recert practical.