$5M is secured for I-22 connector studies

PHIL CAMPBELL — A $5 million federal earmark has been secured for engineering and environmental studies tied to the long-discussed Haleyville bypass project, also known as the Interstate 22 connector.

Kreg Kennedy, senior district field representative for U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, provided the update during a recent meeting of the Phil Campbell Town Council.

Kennedy said the project would create a fourlane route connecting Interstate 22 to Tennessee.

Kennedy said the fund- ing was awarded during the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process.

“Robert [Aderholt] has appropriated $5 million to ALDOT [Alabama Department of Transportation] to get it started, and that’s with the environmental studies and the engineering studies.”

Williams said the proposed route could help first responders when crossings are blocked.

“We would like to get it paved from the four-lane up there to 63,” Williams said. “It would help our first responders out if these roads got blocked.”

Kennedy said he knew trains had caused problems in the area but was unaware of the impact on emergency services.

“I knew that y’all had some train issues. I did not know that you were being cut off with emergency services,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said ALDOT is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation on the studies. He said the studies are expected to take about a year.

Kennedy said future work would likely proceed in phases because each section would need to connect to an existing usable roadway.