New freeway would have huge impact in area

By Staff
Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. wants lawmakers to help pave the way for a Florence-Mobile freeway that he hopes will help revitalize poor areas of west Alabama.
Supporters said a four-lane road running parallel to the Mississippi state line would bring jobs to a part of Alabama that is poor, rural and dependent on timber and agriculture.
This freeway, a portion of which would run through Franklin County, could be the lifeline our area needs to land a major manufacturer.
A major thoroughfare like this would link our county to both the coast and the mid-west. It could mean jobs, a richer retail base and an overall boost to the quality of life in Franklin County. At a news conference with 17 Democratic and Republican legislators, the Democratic lieutenant governor urged the legislature to create a commission to explore both public and private financing for the project. This road will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but Franklin County stands to be a major benefactor of that investment.