HUNTSVILLE — As motorists take the Madison Boulevard exit on I-565 from the east, a sea of red lights appears.

Sometimes the traffic is backed up through the Governors West intersection.

For years, the Madison Boulevard-Slaughter Road intersection has been the poster child of the growth of Madison and west Huntsville.

Now, that busy interchange will undergo a thorough review to identify improvements to remove the congestion.

In a project led by the Huntsville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the city of Huntsville entered into a $5.375 million funding agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to begin work on the intersection.

The funding will evaluate the need for additional turn lanes and signal improvements at the intersection to minimize traffic backup.

“Improving the Slaughter Road intersection at Madison Boulevard will impact the lives of District 5 residents in a positive way,” said City Council President John Meredith, who represents District 5. “Making this intersection safer and more efficient is a project I’m proud to support.”

The MPO is covering 80% of the cost ($4.3 million) and the city is funding 20% ($1.075 million).

The project will include design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and construction phases of work.