On Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey approved the West Alabama Highway project, signing the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) contracts to proceed with the five-laning. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07), who represents much of the area, applauded the governor’s action.
Sewell said on the social media platform known as X, “I applaud @GovernorKayIvey for approving the West Alabama Corridor Project. This project will bring much-needed jobs and economic development to communities in the Black Belt. Allowing it to move forward was the right thing to do.”
The contracts to proceed with the project were held up for 45 days by the Legislature’s Contract Review Committee. State Senator Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) held up the contracts because he argued that the expensive projects would slow the timeline on other projects like widening Interstate 65.
“They are trying to lock this down while she (Ivey) is still in there,” Elliott said.
Elliott was also concerned about the lack of federal support for the project.
“They never asked,” Elliott said of ALDOT. “They are not going to ask. They said something about getting those federal grants is too difficult, and they have not had luck in the past.”
Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth also opposes the project in a rare public rift with the Governor.
The dispute centers around a nearly $75 million contract to design the 83 miles of widening of the road necessary to make it five lanes from Mobile to Florence. The controversial project broke going toward that project, which broke ground in 2021. It aims to widen a two-lane roadway to four lanes and connect Thomasville to Tuscaloosa. Much of the money to build the project will be borrowed by the state.
On Thursday, West Alabama leaders held a rally at the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce where they argued that the project was necessary and will both improve the quality of life and economic development for the region.
Kyle South is the President and CEO of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce.
“We stand in support of the investment project known as the West Alabama Highway,” President South said. “We want the West Alabama Highway project to move forward without any further delays.”
The Legislature’s Contract Review Committee cannot block a contract. All they can do is draw attention to a contract they find questionable by placing a hold on the signing of the contract. Once 45 days have passed, the Governor can sign the contract anyway, as Gov. Ivey did on Monday. The full committee did not vote to place the hold on the contract. Instead, Committee Chairman Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) kept in place a committee policy where a single member can hold up a contract, which is what Elliott did. Elliott kept his hold in place for the 45-day maximum period of time.
Terri Sewell has represented the Seventh Congressional District since 2011.
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