Seeking Funding for I-22 Connector (Haleyville Bypass)

By Harold Bearden
Friday, March 14, 2014 | 11:03 AM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=2021

Roger Hayes, Winston County Commission Chairman, addresses local issues in Montgomery

Local elected officials and several interested citIzens A visited Montgomery Wednesday for the purpose of seeking funding for the I-22 Connector project, known locally as the Haleyville bypass. The local delegation of 22, including Mayor Ken Sunseri and all three Winston County Commissioners, met with the state senators and representatives for Winston County, Lt Governor Kay Ivey, as well as representatives from several state agencies. The trip was organized by Gary Warren, Executive Director of the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce. Senator Paul Busmann coordinated the all day meetings with the state officials in Montgomery. 

In addition to Senator Busmann, the group met with Senator Greg Reed, Representatives Ken Johnson, Richard Baughn and Mike Millikan. In the afternoon, the agenda included Lt. Governor Kay Ivey, Don Arkle, Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), Shane Bailey, Alabama Department of Community Affairs (ADECA), and Art Faulkner, Director, Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

The delegation was told the emphasis on any new highway construction was in heavier populated areas, such as the completion of I-22 at I-65, Highway 280 in Birmingham and other projects.

At the end of the day, much information was exchanged, verbal requests for help were made, but it appeared the funding and completion of the project is still in the far distant future. In the words of one of the delegates, the I-22 Connector project is not dead, but it is so far out it can't be seen with the Hubble telescope.