The Folsom Highway
The next major highway in Alabama may be named after Little Jim Folsom. He said yesterday that he would push for a major north-south highway through west Alabama if elected.
I live in west Alabama. I can tell you that it’s REALLY annoying to have to drive to Birmingham to go to Montgomery, Huntsville, or Montgomery. An interstate or major 4-lane highway that connects Tuscaloosa, through Hale County, to Montgomery would be a welcome relief for many Alabamians. I’m pretty sure it would be well-travelled and therefore help some of the stagnant economies along it’s route from Hale County to the Shoals.
The lack of a major highway is often noted by economic developers as one of the reasons the Shoals area hasn’t been able to attract big industries to the area as it once did. Folsom said he believes the Shoals has the ingredients to again attract companies with high-paying jobs, including automotive manufacturing plants, biotech companies and information technology firms. The Shoals, along the Tennessee River, has plenty of water, affordable electricity, and a pool of trained workers, he said.
Look, I don’t mean to be a campaign commercial for Folsom, and I realize I’ve been more mean to Republicans lately, but if you want your party to get some praise, tell them to come up with a better platform than your “Handshake” offers. A north-south highway through west Alabama is a great idea — it’s someting the government is responsible for, requires no tax breaks to companies that can afford it, and would appeal to many west Alabamians who have felt left out since the Dwight Eisenhower Interstate System began.
The Lieutenant Governor’s race, pitting Little Jim against Big Luther, proving to be much more interesting than the goober race. I’m starting to think Folsom may just win this thing.
- Bamacrat links to this post in his October 5, 2006 post.
Comment by Randi Bates
Didn’t I read somewhere that Riley and the transportation Dept. are already working on a plan to extend I-85 west to the Miss. state Line? And isn’t corridor X already in the works to link Atlanta and Memphis? Doesn’t that go through northwest Alabama?
Comment by Dan
I hadn’t heard about any of that, Randi. I don’t really keep up with transportation news. If you can point me to a news article or website about it, I’d appreciate it.
Comment by Mike
Corridor X (Future I-22) will follow the existing Highway 78 through Mississippi to Jasper (where it will connect to I-65. There is no plan to extend it to Atlanta.) Northwest Alabama is still left out of that loop entirely
Comment by Mr. Anon Y. Mous
I don’t have a reference, but the plan is to develop a separate highway to run from Memphis to Atlanta that would go through Huntsville.
Comment by Dan
All I want is a straight shot to get to I-65 from Tuscaloosa. I’m just sick of having to go to Birmingham when I want to go to the beach.
Comment by wheeler
dan,
back roads are much nicer: us 82e to al 22s to al 41s to al 21 s.
brings you to i65 at atmore.
might even be quicker and less distance than going all the way to b’ham. this is more directly southern route.
Comment by Dan
I have done that before, wheeler, but it isn’t quicker — especially if you get stuck behind a logging truck.
Comment by Anonymous
It’s too bad Folsom didn’t come up with idea during his time as Lt. Gov and Governor. Democrats have controlled the state legislature for 150 years and have strong control over Florence - funny it’s taken this long to propose a new road.
Pingback by Where’s my interstate
[…] seem to remember a man named Jim Folsom, Jr. promising me an interstate through west Alabama if I voted for him to be lieutenant governor. Well, I voted for him. […]
Comment by Jennifer Foster
I wrote an article about the new I-16 last year in the Opelika-Auburn News. I’ll try to e-mail you the saved page, Dan.