Work on new turn lanes near Southside Bridge underway

Drivers  who travel thru the intersection of Whorton Bend road and Alabama hightway 77 in Southside are being asked to slow down as work gets underway to add a merge lane at the intersection.

The merge lane is expected to ease some of the traffic burden on the old Southside bridge, which is one lane headed north from Southside to Rainbow City.

Tim Graves, engineer for the Etowah County Road Department

 is asking that drivers pay attention in that area and slow down so it is safe for the work to continue. He said the work is expected to continue for several weeks.

The County Commission in October voted to submit a plan for the merge lane, with expectations that the lane would help ease morning drive traffic in the area.

The plan was approved by the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Graves said the county plans to add a stacked turn lane for northbound traffic on Whorton Bend Road to merge onto Alabama Highway 77 north toward Rainbow City.