And then what happens after you cross into Alabama? Is there a plan to 4-lane 331 in Alabama to hit the new Montgomery bypass that is under construction? I guess that is Alabama's bidness.
Bridge Addition for US HWY 331
- Thread starter Bob Wells
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Actually I think there is a plan, because there was discussion to 4 laning 85 to Alabama and there was supposed to be 4 laning 331 north to Montgomery. I don't recall whatever happened to the discussion but Alabama has done some pretty significant work up that way over the years.
AS reported on WZEP AM 1460:
FDOT DFS 331 North Meeting Held
Would you like to see U.S. 331 widened to four lanes from Highway 90 to the Alabama state line? Don’t look for that to happen anytime soon, but the state has begun the process to see what the needs are. The DeFuniak Springs City Council met with Christy Johnson of West Florida Regional Planning and George Holland from the FDOT Milton Planning office about a $3 million study to look at the U.S. 331 north and traffic needs in twenty years. The work comes after a change to the future work program. The study was added to the 2014 budget.
This section of highway is on the FDOT Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) since it connects cities, goods and people. The 28 mile project was included in the 20135 needs plan for the feasibility study and design. The cost to build a road can be $5m to $6m per mile.
The Council and residents were told the first step is determining what the future needs are. Next the study will recommend different ways to meet the needs. These can include widened roads, public transportation and other ways to move people and goods. For this highway the need will likely be widening, adding passing lanes, or additional lanes. After the decision is made of what to do, the planning, design and engineering takes place. This will also let them know what the rights of way needs are. The study and plans will take about three years. None of this can move past what is currently budgeted for. Those at the meeting were told the funding could be moved up, but normally they are looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years. Since this is a study looking at needs for twenty to twenty five years out, the work might not be done for 20 years.
The Council talked about and agreed there is a need. They also talked about the part of the highway that comes through the city. A bypass was mentioned. Council member Mac Carpenter said he would be opposed to any bypass. He talked about the changes to the economy of the city when the interstate came through. Carpenter called transportation corridors the lifeblood of economic development in the town.
FDOT DFS 331 North Meeting Held
Would you like to see U.S. 331 widened to four lanes from Highway 90 to the Alabama state line? Don’t look for that to happen anytime soon, but the state has begun the process to see what the needs are. The DeFuniak Springs City Council met with Christy Johnson of West Florida Regional Planning and George Holland from the FDOT Milton Planning office about a $3 million study to look at the U.S. 331 north and traffic needs in twenty years. The work comes after a change to the future work program. The study was added to the 2014 budget.
This section of highway is on the FDOT Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) since it connects cities, goods and people. The 28 mile project was included in the 20135 needs plan for the feasibility study and design. The cost to build a road can be $5m to $6m per mile.
The Council and residents were told the first step is determining what the future needs are. Next the study will recommend different ways to meet the needs. These can include widened roads, public transportation and other ways to move people and goods. For this highway the need will likely be widening, adding passing lanes, or additional lanes. After the decision is made of what to do, the planning, design and engineering takes place. This will also let them know what the rights of way needs are. The study and plans will take about three years. None of this can move past what is currently budgeted for. Those at the meeting were told the funding could be moved up, but normally they are looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years. Since this is a study looking at needs for twenty to twenty five years out, the work might not be done for 20 years.
The Council talked about and agreed there is a need. They also talked about the part of the highway that comes through the city. A bypass was mentioned. Council member Mac Carpenter said he would be opposed to any bypass. He talked about the changes to the economy of the city when the interstate came through. Carpenter called transportation corridors the lifeblood of economic development in the town.