I live in Tennessee, most of my business is done in Alabama. I've kept a close eye on the highway 43 construction. Why is there such a wide right of way on the west side of the road?
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Hwy 43 was rebuilt in the late 50's, early 60's anticipating that at one point it would be 4 laned. That was the reason they withheld such a wide swath for future progress.
But who ever knew that The Shoals was going to be the stepchildren of the State? We were punished by George Wallace and the South Alabama Mafia for not voting their way. And we had two generations of ineffective state legislators and state senators.
We were once again punished politically with Hwy 157 taking 25+ years to get 4 laned from Cullman. Have you ever noticed that Hwy 24 from Decatur to Russellville was 4 laned 10 or more years before Hwy 157 to the Shoals? It was simply democratic politics, and Roger Bedford going along with other State Senators' pork barrel projects. 140,000 Shoals citizens deserved to get Hwy 157 completed first to support our industrial base of jobs.
We cannot complain as loudly as Birmingham, however. I-59 East of Birmingham was the last interstate highway in the U.S. built between two major cities. Again, B'ham didn't vote for George Wallace, and he tortured the city for years and years--preventing the interstate from being built to Pell City. It cost the city $ billions in lost commerce and untold jobs that never came to Birmingham area. The city has really never met its potential with changing politics, mismanagement and corrupt local politicians.
And to think that we still cannot funding to get the last 7 miles built. Tennessee met their obligations to this area many years ago.
When Mike Curtis was in the house, 43 north was slated to be four lanes all the way to the line. there was even a timetable set for it. Now that he was voted out of office, the plans have been canceled.
Until we get a legislator elected from this area you can forget about it ever being put back on a schedule. Alabama politics!
Gov Burns doesn't need N. Al. They vote for him anyhow since voting dem is a ticket to hell as per the cloth.
Quaildog, that really is the answer.
Originally Posted by jtdavis:
I live in Tennessee, most of my business is done in Alabama. I've kept a close eye on the highway 43 construction. Why is there such a wide right of way on the west side of the road?
I believe that the extra wide right of way on the west side of 43 was established when the Shoals area was dry and folks returning from businesses just beyond the state line needed a wide right of way to meander back home. 
Good answer, the state is looking out for us. The right of way on the new part is a lot wider than that on the old.