Shelby County engineers and representatives from Alabaster, Calera, and local nonprofit 58 Inc. are working with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to move up the expansion of I-65 by about 20 years- a project that local officials say has the potential to impact the entire metro area’s commute and economy.

The $200 million expansion will add one additional northbound and southbound lane between Exit 238 in Alabaster and Exit 231 in Calera according to Shelby County Engineer David Willingham. He said the clogging of I-65 was one of Shelby County’s biggest traffic issues.

The project would also include improvements to Exit 234 in Pelham and the replacement of eight bridges on I-65 according to Willingham.

He added that in an effort to accelerate the project, Shelby County has pledged $20 million in funding. The cities of Alabaster and Calera are responsible for producing around $3.5 million of that total.

While the project was originally scheduled to begin around 2045, Alabaster City Administrator Brian Bizner said it is imperative for the metro area and the state that construction begins sooner rather than later.