By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
With construction just days behind schedule, the progress on a 14-mile stretch of Alabama 113 leading toward I-65 is moving forward.
Bondurant said the progress of the work has been a pleasure to watch.
The project is being made possible through funding from several sources. Alabama is committing $20 million to the project with the City of Flomaton and Escambia County, each providing $500,000 to the project. Escambia County, Fla., has committed $4 million to bring the project to completion.
The construction, which was approved in August of last year, began work in September and should be completed in spring 2009, according to officials with Gov. Bob Riley's office.
The project, which spans the area from U.S. 31 to I-65 just north of Flomaton, began with a dream 40 years ago.
Economic development officials have said the four-laning of 113 will benefit the entire region, with the possibility of new development in retail and industry.
Officials with the Florida-Alabama Strategic Transportation committee are continuing with plans to widen a portion of Alabama 41 from I-65 to the Florida state line.
Plans include widening a section of Florida 87 north of Whiting Field to the Alabama state line and a portion of Alabama 41 from I-65 south to the Florida line, according to discussion by the FAST committee, which is chaired by Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings.
In a September meeting of the committee, plans of the project were revealed.
The plan for the Alabama 41 four-laning would be to start in Brewton and go to Interstate 65, with the work starting at the railroad tracks in Brewton.
The project studies are still about four and a half years away from being complete, FAST committee members have said. The building of the four-lane could take an additional two years to complete.