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The Go Wide I-65 Coalition, a newly established 501(c)(4) organization, launched its campaign on Friday to advocate for the expansion of Alabama’s Interstate 65, a highway crucial to the state’s economic vitality.
The campaign’s visibility surged as billboards supporting the widening of I-65 appeared from the Tennessee state line to the Florida state line, marking the start of a statewide push to address growing traffic congestion on this critical transportation corridor.
George Clark, the coalition’s executive director, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “I-65 is the primary artery of the state of Alabama and literally carries the state’s economic lifeblood every day,” Clark said.
Clark, the founder and former president of Manufacture Alabama, has a long history of infrastructure advocacy. Over a decade ago, he collaborated with various associations, businesses, industries, and legislative committees to assess Alabama’s infrastructure needs, developing strategic plans to address them. These industries, Clark noted, are heavily reliant on robust infrastructure to maintain production and commerce.
The Go Wide I-65 Coalition aims to rally support for the expansion plan proposed by Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth. “Lt. Governor Ainsworth has taken the lead in advocating for this essential infrastructure project,” Clark stated. “Our campaign builds on the foundation he has established.”
The Ainsworth Plan calls for expanding I-65 to three lanes in both directions, targeting current congestion and safety issues while fostering economic growth and preparing Alabama for future transportation needs. Clark highlighted the coalition’s goal of expanding its reach and securing the plan’s adoption by Alabama’s political leadership, describing it as “perhaps the most important economic development project Alabama can adopt.”
With 366 miles of I-65 running through Alabama, only 80 miles currently have three or more lanes. After accounting for projects already approved, approximately 277 miles remain for expansion.
The benefits of expanding I-65 to three lanes are extensive, Clark noted, listing economic growth, increased tourism, significant safety improvements, accommodation of future growth, enhanced quality of life, and environmental benefits as key outcomes.
As the Go Wide I-65 Coalition’s campaign gains momentum, the call for immediate attention and action to widen Alabama’s most vital transportation corridor is expected to resonate across the state.
For more information about the expansion issue and the Go Wide I-65 Coalition, visit website.
