The Ainsworth Plan to Expand I-65
How Many Miles of Interstate Must Be Expanded? There are 366 total miles of I-65 running through Alabama.
Currently, only 80 miles of I-65 consist of three or more lanes, including 53 miles between Exit 291 and 283, 14 miles near Prattville, and 13 miles near Saraland. Two more approved projects will add 7 miles from Alabaster to Calera and another 2 miles near Saraland. That leaves approximately 277 miles of I-65 left for expansion to three lanes.
Setting Priorities: An expansion plan of this size will take years to accomplish and would be impossible to fund and construct all at once. Alabama must set priorities that generate the most improvements in the quickest time possible. Setting expansion priorities will also make this project more economically feasible. The Ainsworth Plan proposes a phased approach to funding and construction, focusing on sections that will have the most immediate impact and can be completed in a timely manner.
Given the Ainsworth Plan’s magnitude, setting priorities is essential. The Ainsworth Plan considers the following criteria in setting construction priorities for the I-65 expansion:
Priorities must be given to those sections of I-65 that will have the most significant impact on the largest number of people, reduce the most congestion, reduce the most accidents, and create the most significant economic impact for Alabama.
Reducing congestion around our major cities will be critical to Alabama’s future growth. These priorities will be set based on a comprehensive traffic data analysis, economic impact, and safety considerations.
The Time Is Now to Expand I-65
Costs
Expanding a mile of interstate to three lanes costs approximately $6 million on average for sections in rural Alabama and $10 million per mile for urban areas. However, construction costs have skyrocketed in the last few years and the total cost for full expansion will be in the billions.
Additional Costs
Expanding lanes on bridges come with additional obstacles and even higher costs. Alabama faces several challenges with the three-lane expansion of the Tennessee River Bridge in North Alabama and the Dolly Parton Bridge in South Alabama. These challenges include the need for extensive engineering and construction work, potential disruptions to traffic flow during the expansion, and the use of specialized materials for bridge construction, all of which contribute to the higher costs associated with bridge expansions.
Funding
Such projects are paid/financed with a combination of federal, state of Alabama and local government dollars. Typically, state or local governments pay 20% of the cost of interstate widening projects with the Federal Government paying 80%.
GO WIDE!
