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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 “the bottom line is, I’m the governor of all the people.”
“Including those in the Black Belt and in West Alabama,” Ivey added. “That area is so important to our state and does not have four-lane access to the interstate. It’s the right thing to do and we’re gonna press on with expanding U.S. Highway 43 into a four-lane from Mobile to Tuscaloosa.”
Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, responded to Elliot’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.
