To: Alabama Department of Transportation, Governor Kay Ivy, Senator Richard Shelby, Senator Doug Jones, Rep. Bradley Byrne, and Candidate for Senator Tommy Tuberville ,

The US Highway 45 corridor traverses east Mississippi running into west Alabama at the state line. Highway 45 is a four-lane road until you cross over into Alabama then becomes a two-lane. This petition hopes to open our region up to four-lane accessibility so that it would spur interest in developable sites that have access to the I-65 Interstate system and coastal Alabama. It would promote and accommodate commercial development within the southwest counties of Alabama and would provide improved access and increased tourism to our coastal Alabama communities!  It would attract new industries, including development of tourism and retirement potential that will lead to increased population and jobs.

Highway 45 is a well traveled route for coastal property owners and tourist and there have been numerous traffic accidents and deaths along this route. There are hardly any legal passing lanes and this makes it dangerous for local communities as well as travelers. There is also a great deal of semi truck and log truck traffic on this highway.

If Highway 45 was  four-lanes it would elevate stress of all travelers local and visiting. It would open up commerce from our visitors from North Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and further. People from these states frequently travel and spend money in our Alabama coastal communities. 

The financing of this could come from the new I10 bridge project in Mobile and with toll stations along the Highway 45 route. I have little doubt that would be meet with much opposition if you have ever traveled this dangerous stretch of Highway. 

Thank you for your time.