It’s a good idea for Demopolis motorists to always be cautious at the intersection of Highway 80 and Walnut Ave, but this week drivers had to be even more on their toes as roadwork at the busy intersection closed turn lanes around the intersection.

The reason behind the roadwork is the puddles that frequently form along the intersections’ curbs during heavy rain. With the rainy season fast approaching and a resurfacing of 80 planned for the not-so-distant future, a reworking of the area’s drainage system was needed.

“Water just accumulates there in front of Hardee’s,” says Jerry Holt with the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Division 8, District 4 office, which is handling the roadwork.

“What we’re doing is what’s called a re-inlet,” he says. “It’s to help with the drainage. It’s just a routine maintenance project.”

The project may also include “trench drains” to help prevent accumulation during winter storms. Construction will likely be “off and on” for several days, Holt says, until the project is completed.

Part of the problem, Holt says, is the increased traffic on 80 and the growth alongside the Highway.

“there has been so much development on the south side of the highway that when there’s water in the road, it just can’t handle it,” he says.

Holt was not aware of the timetable for the resurfacing project.