AUGUSTA, Ga. - Another big construction project could cause traffic backups in the near future.

This time it's Alexander Drive. Officials say things will likely kick off by the end of this year. The project will last a year and a half.

Those who drive the road every day say they're not looking forward to another slow spot in west Augusta.

"That won't be good for me. I'll be even later for work," said Jennifer Flores. She takes Alexander Drive to work every day to dodge the traffic on Washington Road.

"If there's a wreck you could wait 30 to 45 minutes. The lunch crowd is really really busy," she said.

Alexander's not that bad. But, she says she knows it needs to expand.

"It gets crazy on that road," said Flores.

"There's a big need. Alexander is very heavily traveled," said Augusta Engineering Director Abie Ladson.

Now, it will expand from two lanes to four with a median and a direct connection to River Watch Parkway.

Ladson says this project has been a long time coming.

"We've been working on the Alexander expansion since 1998," he said.

He says during construction, Alexander will never shut down completely. But it will be slow going for as long as a year and a half.

The project is set to go to bid in September. Officials say construction should start a couple of months after that.

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