Valleydale Road and state Route 261 will be widened from three lanes to five within the next five years, said Hoover City Engineer Rod Long.

The section of road under consideration runs from Interstate 65 to Helena, Long said. Once Valleydale Road runs over U.S. Highway 31, it turns into Route 261.

Construction on the 12-month project is scheduled to begin in 2011 or 2012, he said.

Although the project’s cost hasn’t been finalized, it’ll likely be in the $3-$4 million range. Funds for the project would be 80 percent federal and 20 percent local.

The project has been in the works for three years.

Widening that stretch of road will help alleviate the major traffic crunch, Long said.

“Right now, if you drive this section of road, it’s probably about a mile of cars backed up,” he said. “This will address the existing capacity problems.”