Interstate 65 serves as Alabama's main north-south thoroughfare and, during times of tropical weather, as an evacuation route.
Evacuees from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle along the Gulf Coast may rely on Interstate 65, in whole or in part, to seek shelter from a pending hurricane.
With Hurricane Milton threatening Central Florida's Tampa and Orlando metropolitan areas, Interstate 75 has served as an evacuation route for millions of Floridians. However, despite having three lanes in both directions from its route from Florida-Georgia to Tampa, it has been plagued with some problems.
While much of the focus on improving Interstate 65 in Alabama has been on the chronically congested portion between Birmingham and Montgomery, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth argued the route merited attention because it offers access to and from the Gulf Coast.
"The evacuation and logjam occurring on I-75 as Floridians escape the path of Hurricane Milton vividly demonstrates the importance of widening I-65 here, in Alabama," Ainsworth said to 1819 News. "Just as I-65 takes tourists to visit our world famous beaches, it is also the route that takes Alabamians and others to safety when hurricanes threaten the Gulf Coast, and simply adding a lane both north and south could literally save lives."
Ainsworth has been an outspoken proponent of widening Interstate 65 throughout Alabama and is the subject of a billboard campaign promoting the proposed project.
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
