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Infrastructure

Ivey on West Alabama Highway: โ€œIโ€™m the governor of all the peopleโ€

โ€œThat area is so important to our state and does not have four-lane access to the interstate,โ€ Ivey said.

Gov. Kay Ivey speaks with media about her thoughts on the debate over widening the West Alabama corridor. (Hal Yeager/Governor's Office).

Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, has stalled funding on widening portions of the West Alabama corridor from Tuscaloosa to Mobile, expressing concerns about reckless spending.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth has accused John Cooper, director of the Alabama Department of Transportation, of threatening people who want to widen I-65.

But Gov. Kay Ivey told media Tuesday that she supports the West Alabama corridor project, saying โ€œthe bottom line is, Iโ€™m the governor of all the people.โ€

โ€œIncluding those in the Black Belt and in West Alabama,โ€ Ivey added. โ€œThat area is so important to our state and does not have four-lane access to the interstate. Itโ€™s the right thing to do and weโ€™re gonna press on with expanding U.S. Highway 43 into a four-lane from Mobile to Tuscaloosa.โ€

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, responded to Elliotโ€™s halt of the contract by putting a halt on all ALDOT contracts, creating a logjam that could last 45 days from the contract review committee meeting last week.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said it is important to focus on widening both the West Alabama corridor and I-65, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure for rural areas.

Jacob Holmes is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can reach him at jholmes@alreporter.com

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