View source for Malfunction Junction

[[Image:MalfunctionJunction.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Photo from the south along Interstate 65.]]
'''Malfunction Junction''' is the common nickname of the heavily traveled intersection of [[I-20]]/[[I-59]] and [[I-65]] located just to the northwest of the downtown [[Birmingham]] core. Along I-20/I-59 this is Exit 124 and along I-65 this is Exit 260. It has earned this moniker due to its irregular configuration that requires motorists to shift across multiple lanes to traverse the intersection.

The junction opened to traffic in [[1970]]. In [[1990]], plans were made to completely overhaul the interchange due to increasing traffic demands. As part of this reconstruction multiple lanes would be added in addition to completely overhauling the interchange itself. Today, over 260,000 vehicles pass through the junction daily which is nearly twice the amount it was originally designed to carry. 

An interesting feature of the interchange is that the northbound and southbound lanes of I-65 reverse sides for approximately 1/4-mile, with the southbound lanes passing over the northbound ones at the north and south sides of the interchange.

The junction's tight turns and short merging distances do not meet current interstate standards. Additional lanes through the interchange were added in [[2003]] to alleviate some congestion, with future plans calling for its complete reconstruction. Continued work on the planned [[Interstate 422|Northern Beltline]] should also alleviate some through traffic on the junction.

==Surface==
In 2001 the Alabama Department of Transportation contracted with [[Good Hope Contracting]] of [[Cullman]] to resurface the junction with a NovaChip ultrathin bonded wearing course composed of a course-aggregate hot mix over a special polymer-modified asphalt membrane, applied in a single pass. The projected life-span of the special non-skid surface is 10 years.

==Major accidents==
[[Image:2002_Accident.jpg|right|thumb|275px|2002 accident from the north.]]
On [[January 5]], [[2002]], an accident resulted in the death of trucker [[Tim Dyson]] after his tanker truck was cut-off by another motorist and lost control while heading northbound through the interchange along I-65. The resulting explosion caused severe damage to the bridge connecting I-20/I-59 southwest with I-65 south, and a plume of black smoke visible from throughout the city. The bridge would remain closed until February 25, 2002, resulting in motorists being detoured to [[U.S. Highway 78]]/[[Arkadelphia Road]] during the interim. Repairs were completed by [[Brasfield & Gorrie]] in just 38 days after demolition of the damaged bridge was complete. Former governor Don Siegelman, Representative [[Spencer Bachus]] and state Department of Transportation director Paul Bowlin attended its rededication in February [[2002]]. The new bridge has been dedicated as the Tim Dyson Memorial Bridge.

On [[October 21]], [[2004]], a tractor trailer again wrecked igniting 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel resulting in severe damage and the closure of the connecting ramp from I-20/I-59 northeast with I-65 north. The driver [[Bryan Gerald]] rolled over as a result of speeding on the connector ramp connecting I-65 north with I-20/I-59 southwest. The bridge would remain closed until December 4, 2004, resulting in motorists being detoured to Highway 78/Arkadelphia Road during the interim. Repairs were completed by Brasfield & Gorrie and the [[White Morris Group]] just five weeks after demolition of the damaged bridge was complete.

In June 2006, partly in response to the growing [[List of interstate accidents involving dropped steel loads]], the Alabama Department of Transportation announced increased enforcement of [[I-459]] as the alternate truck route for through-trucks transferring from I-20/59 to I-65. [[Mike Coppage]], director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety said that he would instruct State Troopers to check bills of lading and direct truckers to the proper routes, but that his department was stretched too thin to enforce the routes effectively. The city of Birmingham, which has its own ordinance to keep trucks off the Interstate bridge, stopped enforcing truck routes in [[1995]] on the advice of city attorneys. [[Bessemer]] and other cities do actively enforce the regulations.

In March [[2007]], Governor [[Bob Riley]] ordered that the speed limit be lowered from 60 MPH to 50 MPH through Malfunction Junction.  This affected [[Interstate 65]] from [[University Boulevard]] to [[Finley Avenue]] and [[I-20]]/[[I-59|59]] from [[Arkadelphia Road]] to milemarker 127, located between the [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]] and [[Tallapoosa Street]].[http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/03/riley_orders_speed_limit_lower.html]

During construction of new ramps and lanes as part of the bridge replacement project for the [[I-20/59 downtown viaduct]] in April [[2018]], a delayed construction repair led to the extended closure of part of the junction, requiring detours.

On [[October 1]], [[2020]] a truck overturned at the junction, spilling 5,000 gallons of sodium hydrosulfite. The driver was mildly injured. Both interstates were closed as crews began cleanup operations. Five days later a car hauler ran off of the I-65 ramp onto I-20/59, killing the driver.

==Major renovation==
[[Image:Malfunction_junction_renovation.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Rendering of the final 2016-2018 renovation work.]]
In [[2016]] work was begun to add more ramps and bridges to the interchange with the goal of improving traffic flow and providing better access to the renovated section of I-20/I-59.

A new directional sign approaching the junction from the east was installed in May [[2018]]. It mistakenly instructed drivers to proceed through the center lanes for "65 W & 59 S" toward Tuscaloosa and to merge right for "20 N" toward Huntsville. The error was corrected by covering and replacing the sign soon afterward.

Phase 2 of the downtown bridge replacement project, including new ramps connecting to [[11th Avenue North]] and [[17th Street North]], was completed in August [[2018]].

==References==
* MacDonald, Ginny. (January 13, 2002) "Design, overload make junction malfunction." {{BN}}
* Mahoney, Ryan (February 26, 2002) "Damaged I-65 bridge reopens." {{BBJ}}
* "[http://www.nbc13.com/news/3966737/detail.html Bridge at Malfunction Junction to Reopen]." (December 2, 2004) NBC13.COM - accessed July 9, 2006
* McDonald, Ginny (June 18, 2006) "Trucks will be moved to I-459". {{BN}}
* "[http://www.betterroads.com/articles/jan02d.htm Ultrathin Wearing Course Lengthens Pavement Life]." (January 2002) ''Better Roads Magazine'' - accessed July 9, 2006
* Stein, Kelsey (April 06, 2016) "[http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/04/significant_traffic_delays_exp.html Significant traffic delays expected during roadwork on I-65 near Malfunction Junction]" {{BN}}
* Edgemon, Erin (May 19, 2017) "[http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/05/i-2059_bridge_replacement_in_b.html I-59/20 bridges rebuilding, closure to last 14 months]" {{BN}}
* Songer, Joe (July 13, 2017) "[http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/07/take_a_look_at_construction_of.html Take a look at construction of the I-20/59 Bridge Replacement Project]" {{BN}}
* Harress, Christopher (April 10, 2018) "Dysfunction at Malfunction Junction: What went wrong on I-20/59? What happens next?" {{BN}}
* Beahm, Anna (May 16, 2018) "I-20 North? Malfunction Junction sign to be replaced, ALDOT says." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (October 1, 2020) "Overturned 18-wheeler, 5,000 gallon sodium hydrosulfite spill shuts down I-59 in Birmingham." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (October 6, 2020) "18-wheeler falls off I-65 ramp onto I-59/20; 1 dead, roadway shut down." {{BN}}

==External links==
{{Locate | lat= 33.521498 | lon=-86.82629 | zoom=16 | type=h }}
* [http://www.alaraves.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11045&goto=nextoldest Photos of the 2004 bridge accident] on AlaRaves.com Forum

[[Category:I-65]]
[[Category:I-20]]
[[Category:I-59]]