Lieutenant Gov. Will Ainsworth is joining the chorus of lawmakers voicing strong opposition to the West Alabama Highway project, which aims to create a four-lane highway from Mobile to Tuscaloosa, saying that Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) director John Cooper, "should be embarrassed."
"Spending $750 million state dollars on the West Alabama Corridor with ZERO federal match is the biggest abuse of taxpayer funding in Alabama history. ALDOT Director John Cooper should be embarrassed. When your local potholes, roads, and bridges can’t be repaired for lack of funding, blame this massive boondoggle," Ainsworth said on Thursday on Facebook.
Ainsworth's post drew reaction from two former state senators.
"The Legislature has a responsibility to block this. Don’t blame it on the hired help," former State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) said in response to Ainsworth's post.
SEE: State’s $730 million bond sale for West Alabama Corridor begins
Former State Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) commented with a thumbs up emoji, "I served with 7 ALDOT directors John cooper is the best one we have ever had. I dont live in west Alabama but this is important to having a north south route so we can help the economy of that area and therefore the whole state . for too long leaders have turned their back on west ala and we all pay the price."
Dial is considering a 2026 run to return to the legislature.
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