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Originally Posted by WestAlabamaGal
I noticed that you seem to be the official authority on this $7 billion toll road and have written a ton of remarks and personal opinions on it. Did anyone tell you that the 320-mile toll road is likely to run parallel with State Highway 43 from Orange Beach, AL to Loretto, TN? Did you discover that it is only the first half of the toll road; the last half runs to Chicago, IL? That may help you to adjust your calculations somewhat on its feasability.
On May 1, 2000, Engineering News-Report released this article about the $7 billion toll road and stated that it was signed into law by the Governor of Alabama. It also names the FOREIGN source of financing and a company that hasn't recently been named in connection with this. Read it for yourself:
http://www.ajfroggie.com/roads/articles/al-tollroad.htm
In 1997 I read a news report about CSX and Norfolk Southern Railways discussing the need for a railway system that would run parallel with Interstate Highways but said it should be on a lower level than the interstates. I have no idea if that had anything to do with this recent report. A part of that discussion mentioned that there are too many transport trucks on the interstates and that it is much cheaper to ship by rail than by truck.
I wouldn't dare wager a guess for or against this toll road but I will say that, for a state as poor as Alabama, 14,000 new jobs sure would make a difference in the lives of those needing jobs. |
I don't think that anyone is doubting the positive impact this thing would have, were it constructed. I think what people are unhappy about is that Alabama constantly gets these pie in the sky proposals that never come to fruition. With decades of unkept promises, it's hard not to be skeptical.
Also, no one claims to be an expert on any of this. It just seems very far fetched, and should (justifiably so) be approached with caution.
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