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State Hwy. 55 may be 4-laned in future
Published Friday, October 2, 2009
State transportation workers are currently performing a “corridor study” to determine the feasibility of four-laning State Hwy. 55, between Andalusia and Florala.
Motorists along that section of highway may have noticed the multitude of state vehicles and engineers working along the southern Covington County roadside. According to Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) district engineer Bill Wofford, those engineers are doing the “physical work” of the study, which was made possible by a $200,000 appropriation by the state DOT. Wofford said the work has been under way for a “couple of weeks.”
“First off, I have to emphasize this work does not mean that the four-laning of 55 is coming,” Wofford said. “What they are doing is gathering data and other information to be able to look at Hwy. 55 South to see if a four-lane would be warranted in the future. They’re looking at what it will take to build it, how long it would take and what needs to be done to make the project happen.
“That would be a very significant project, and understandably a lot of planning,” he said. “Again this is just the physical work of determining if the project is even feasible. It may happen in five to 10 years or it may never happen. We just don’t know, and that’s why this study is so important.”
Wofford said he was unsure how much work is yet to be done on the study or when the results will be available.
If undertaken, the project would complement the four-laned section of the roadway in the north end of the county, as well as a 4.66-mile section in Georgiana that, once it is completed, will connect the highway to Interstate 65.
Comments
Posted by andybulldog (anonymous) on October 3, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stanley Schoolhouse should be safe, the Church across the road in my opinion could be in jeopardy if the State chose to 4 lane Hwy 55. If you notice beside the Stanley School House you have a cemetary. I have noticed in many instances the State will normally go around or in the opposite direction to keep from disturbing any graves. Only my opinion, but I tend to think that the Old School house would be saved due to the fact of the cemetary beside it where as the current Judson Baptist Church would probably be in peril.
Posted by sonnybubbajunebugjohnson (anonymous) on October 3, 2009 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That makes no sence at all!!!!! 331 will eventually be 4-laned from montgomery to hwy 98, It makes so much more sence to 4-lane 29 south and 137 to florida. If alabama did that, florida could carry the 4-lane straight to i-10 and connect it to hwy 85 just south of crestview, they would have to make a new road to i-10 and 85 but i believe this would be the best route to the beaches and right through andalusia, may even be the best route to panama city also from i-65. Just think of all the beach traffic we could benefit from!!!
Posted by Andy_Lusia (anonymous) on October 3, 2009 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When the L&N took up the track from Crestview to Florala, Florida bought the L&N right of way to the Alabama line. They have all ways said the if Alabama will four-lane 55 to Florala, they will do the same. Alabma alread has most of the needed right of way from Riverfalls to Florala. What this means is that the feasibility study is just a "going thru the motions" study to get the paperwork to flow to the the construction work funded.
As far as four-laning 331 goes. it ain-t going to happen until the loggerheads in Crenshaw Co. agree to a route, which will likely happen about the time that Seth Hammett is elected governor.
Posted by Ineedtobeheard (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Never happen....
Posted by bluecollarguy (anonymous) on October 4, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Highway 55 South 'IS' the new road, that is the new road to Florala, the old road started at the Timmerman Building and went down through Carolina all the way to Niceville to the bay.
Posted by live4today (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
another study....and this one for $200,000...just to see if we need a 4 lane.......seems to me the money could have been used to make improvments to the existing road.
Posted by supprtVets (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember when Gov. Bob Wiley first came into office he was 'parking' state cars on the TV news up in Montgomery, saying too much money was being spent by the State on transportation....Now. politics as usual a $200,000 "STUDY"
just to see if they need to repave,clean, sweep, repair, paint, or four-lane the highway from Andalusia to Florala. Heck, we can all answer that question without spending all that money, $200,000 is a lot of money to me. But, just like the 'tail-end' of all governorships, lameduck money politics to payoff all your old buddies, it is Alabama folks.......
Posted by noonecares (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$200,000 is a drop in the bucket to what this project would cost. You cannot build a project of this magnitude without the study. You can't just get someone with motor graders to start building the road. There are factors like property rights, environmental issues, and cost comparison studies to make sure the road is built with the right balance of economics vs. property rights vs. environmental impact.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on October 5, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh bluecollarguy....... think you got your hwy's mixed up. 29 South goes through Carolina, Wing, Baker. 55 South is the Florala hwy.
Posted by Dogface (anonymous) on October 6, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The better plan would be to go on Hwy 29 south and 137. It has no major rivers to build across and a very large portion of it goes through the national forrest. This should make land aquisition much easier and basically no homes or businesses would have to be moved. If Florida would meet us at the stateline that would be all the better. It would be a direct connection between I10 and I65. The only real problem would be a bypass of Baker.
I have spoken to some of our local and state leaders about this in the past. They may could even garner more federal help by exploiting the hurricane evacuation route needs. Maybe FEMA could pony up some money or maybe some stimulus package money? I really doubt the Feds would be willing to give Alabama or Covington county much money considering the low vote count President Obama received from Alabama and Covington county. If you dont think they play politics over these such things just ask Mobile how they were treated after they voted for Goldwater. But, it would not hurt to investigate and ask for it. That is the job of our local politicians.
It would really bring some traffic through Andalusia, River Falls, Carolina, and Wing.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fellas: this is all great. BUT, we have to consider what effects we will be forced to endure from the State of our Union and Obama's Progressive Liberal Program for socializing our Nation - that be us. The last I heard, we are in debt passed our eyeballs to China and getting ready to do further damage to our economy. This is reality, not pie in the sky.
Just one example: in our county from the Sept. Real Estate Preview, we had 45 businesses and buildings for sale! Out of that 45, 4 were restaurants that have closed!
Who will have the jobs to create the $$ to go beaching if we don't come out of debt nationally? This is not the time to be spending. We should be conserving what we have.
Just as Joseph of Egypt did for the King - he PREPARED for the coming famine and saved his people.
This is reality. Get ready for more to come.
Posted by bluecollarguy (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good comment Shamrock, I and many others agree with you.
Posted by MsGRITS (anonymous) on October 7, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't go gettin' ya'lls tobacco in a wad over something that ain't never gonna happen.
Posted by live4today (anonymous) on October 8, 2009 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's my point.....if it's not going to happen...why is the money being wasted? I do know the answer to that....but I still have to ask?
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