[Wandering Mind]

ive drove thru montgomery a few times, and i saw various billboards bragging about it for the future. do they still have those?

[p3t3r.griffin]

I've never seen a billboard about it, and I've traversed that stretch of interstate probably hundreds of times in the past 5 - 10 years or so. I always wondered what it was, but never really thought about it. MullinsCurve is probably right, that the DoT is probably slowly acquiring land to finish it, assuming they even care anymore. If they are still working on it, the money budgeted for it every year is most likely so small that it will take forever.

But then again, Montgomery is growing eastward, so it may get started back up again.

[MullinsCurve]

I road out Vaughan Road this afternoon, well past civilization, and passed more unfinished bypass. The two-lane road widened to four for about half a mile and passed what looked to be an unfinished controlled access interchange, south of where you mentioned on I-85. Mounds of grassed over dirt in the approximate shape of the exit roadbeds and bridge abutements were in evidence.

What surprised me is that I have been that way several times in the past past few years, obviously seeing this but not "noticing them" as to remember they were there.

You can't get anything past me.

[Mmm231]

One might hope this project is not a political joke. When the project began back in the late 1980's/early 1990's, the land was "condemned" for the road bed, etc. People in that area were forced out of their family homes and lost farms and land that had been in their families for generations. Now that the deed is done, folks have accepted it and it's time to complete the project. It's a beautiful area and there are many fabulous homes being built out that way. Montgomery has only one way to grow....EAST! Completion of the Outer Loop would free up traffic congestion on I-85 thru Montgomery by routing it around the city. It's time to find the money and give Montgomery a chance to grow in a positive way.

[Dabrasco]

This Outer Loop is not just for the Montgomery area, this is planned to encircle Prattville, Millbrook and some other cities in this. This will be in the works for year to come. This is the Southern part of the loop and the North portion will be the next to be started. They had the plans on the web at one time.

[Frankie117]

Went by the embankments South of I-85 the other day. They seem to stop at the old railroad bed not too far from Mt. Meigs. Lots of beautiful scenery out there that is probably going to be paved over with strip malls and subdivisions once that bypass comes through.

[hdwell]

I see your frustration with this outer loop project as we have these problems going on here in Shreveport also. Anyway, does Alabama have any plans to construct an interstate from Montgomery to Meridian, Ms, so that we can come to Montgomery, Columbus, and the like? Maybe the state could create one out of old US80. Just a curious thought I had. Is 80 four-laned to Montgomery or does it just go to Selma?

[MullinsCurve]

It is four-laned between Selma and Montgomery. There used to be a short section somewhere between Demopolis and Selma that was two laned, but I think it was converted several years back, making the road four-laned from Montgomery to the state line, at least, maybe further.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by MullinsCurve

It is four-laned between Selma and Montgomery. There used to be a short section somewhere between Demopolis and Selma that was two laned, but I think it was converted several years back, making the road four-laned from Montgomery to the state line, at least, maybe further.

Thanks for the info!

[BamaTex]

Originally Posted by hdwell

I see your frustration with this outer loop project as we have these problems going on here in Shreveport also. Anyway, does Alabama have any plans to construct an interstate from Montgomery to Meridian, Ms, so that we can come to Montgomery, Columbus, and the like? Maybe the state could create one out of old US80. Just a curious thought I had. Is 80 four-laned to Montgomery or does it just go to Selma?

A year or two ago Gov. Riley proposed extending I-85 from Montgomery to the Miss. state line. I think the main objective was to bring economic developement to the Black Belt portion of the state. I'm not sure what the status of the project is though.