By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

The Alabama Department of Transportation announced May 17 it has awarded a $15.6 million project, which will improve 27 intersections along U.S. 280 in Shelby and Jefferson counties.

The project was awarded to Dunn Construction and APAC Mid-South Inc. of Birmingham as a joint venture, according to an ALDOT statement.

The intersections are along a stretch of about nine miles on U.S. 280 between Hollywood Boulevard and Hugh Daniel Drive. During construction, workers will add turn lanes and make changes in traffic signals to reduce congestion. Work requiring lane closures must be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day, according to the statement.

Work recently began on the project, which is expected to be complete by late November.