By Anne Spencer

Published: May 6, 2008

A limited-access road other than U.S. 231, that would connect from the north to Interstate 10 in the Panhandle, is a possible state project but not in the near future, according to Florida Department of Transportation District 3 public information officer Tommie Speights.

It’s similar to what the Alabama business community is thinking of, but Florida has its on the back burner, according to Speights.

As for the Alabama private initiative for such a route, “DOT does not have anything to do with it,” he said when asked about it Tuesday.

“We do not have any suggested routes. We never identified a route. We started studying a limited-access connector back in 2001 and had a partial feasibility study done back then for the limited-access connector, and it’s basically the same thing, but we didn’t have money to go any further,” Speights said.

“It’s still on the drawing board as far as DOT is concerned, but this is a private connector you’re talking about,” he said.

According to an article by Media General/ Dothan Eagle writer Debbie Ingram, Birmingham attorney Luther Strange announced plans on Monday for such a road. He was acting on behalf of the Alabama interests wanting a toll road to bring more economic development.

The road would run west of Dothan, Ala., and south to I-10. Strange said that private funds would be necessary to bring this about.

Proposed is a partnership between private investors; Houston, Geneva and Dale counties in Alabama; and Jackson, Washington and Bay counties in Florida.
The proposal is to fund the construction with tax-free bonds and turn the connector over to the counties when the road is paid for in 30 years. No state or federal funds would be used.

Public meetings on the subject are to be announced. The Alabama interests are using the corporation Focus 2000 of the Wiregrass.