Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is hoping that the evacuations from Florida this week due to Hurricane Milton will be a wake-up call to state leaders for the need to expand I-65.
Millions of people have jammed up roadways in Florida trying to flee the coming Category 5 storm that is expected to slam the west coast of the state this week.
“Talking with media yesterday, I stressed that widening I-65 is a public safety issue,” Ainsworth said. “It’s Alabama’s main evacuation route from the Gulf Coast in hurricanes, and reports of heavy traffic on I-75 in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton underscores the importance.”
Talking with media yesterday, I stressed that widening I-65 is a public safety issue. It’s Alabama’s main evacuation route from the Gulf Coast in hurricanes, and reports of heavy traffic on I-75 in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton underscores the importance. pic.twitter.com/gnINwQJq1j
— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) October 9, 2024
Ainsworth has been on the forefront of widening the highway for months, promoting it as not only a public safety issue, but also as a benefit to the state’s growing economy.
“I drive up and down 65 all the time and where there’s three lanes, even if you have a wreck, now you at least have one or two lanes that are still open,” he said earlier this year. “And so it’s our main artery of commerce. It’s our main artery to get people to the coast. It’s the main artery for people coming into Huntsville that’s the fastest growing city and one of the top cities in the U.S. for people to live in. We have to fix this.”
RELATED: Go Wide I-65 Coalition launches statewide campaign, billboards blanket Alabama
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) also said Hurricane Milton should be a warning to the state on this issue.
“The scary evacuation scene on I-75 ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall really emphasizes the importance of [Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth’s] plan to widen I-65,” Elliott said. “For those of us along the coast, it’s not just about convenience, it’s about public safety and saving lives.”
The scary evacuation scene on I-75 ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall really emphasizes the importance ofLt. Governor @willainsworthAL plan to widen I-65. For those of us along the coast, it’s not just about convenience, it’s about public safety and saving lives. #gowide65 pic.twitter.com/GYMjUXmHAY
— Senator Chris Elliott (@SenatorElliott) October 8, 2024
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
