Citizens hear about possible I-14 routes as part of UA study on highway’s impact in Dallas County

A good crowd gathered in the Selma Dallas County Public Library Vaughan room to learn about a study of proposed Interstate 14 routes that would bring the highway through Dallas County and perhaps through Selma.

The study is being conducted by University of Alabama graduate student Jack Spalding under the direction of Dr. Kevin M. Curtin, professor of geography and director of the Laboratory for Location Science. They are trying to determine how the proposed routes of I-14 would impact the people and the environment of Dallas County.

Spalding gave the history of the proposal of I-14. In the early 2000s, the state of Alabama proposed extending I-85 roughly paralleling Highway 80 and connecting with I-20 near York. An environmental impact study was done, but the project was indefinitely postponed by the Alabama Department of Transportation in 2018 due to lack of funding.

Meanwhile, the idea of an interstate to run east and west from Augusta, Ga. to Odessa, Texas roughly paralleling I-10 and I-40 dates back to 2005, when the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway was proposed in Congress.

“Senators Ted Cruz and Raphael Warnock championed the inclusion of a 'high priority' designation for Interstate 14 in the 2021 federal infrastructure bill that was signed into law,” Spalding said. “The law does not currently authorize funding for the project; however, if authorized, the federal government would pay 90% of the cost, with the state covering the rest thought the Federal Aid Highway Program.”

Three routes are proposed for I-14 through Dallas County, all roughly paralleling Highway 80 through the county.

The northerly route would take the proposed interstate through Valley Grande near the Dollar General.

More from this section

How gas prices have changed in Montgomery in the last week

Two eagles lift Straka to World Challenge lead over Scheffler

France's Ugo Bienvenu ready to take animated 'Arco' to Oscars

The southerly route would take it south of Selma, between Tyler and Sardis. It would then cut through the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park’s Forever Wild land just south of the park before turning north just past the park crossing Highway 80 near Marion Junction as it turned back west.

The middle route would run south of Selma but turn north well before Old Cahawba, crossing Highway 80 near the ALDOT office and garage.

Spalding pointed out that of the three routes, it appears the middle route would displace the fewer number of people. But there are still questions about the positive or negative economic development each route would bring to the county. Spalding said he will be researching this as the study continues.

During the meeting, many in attendance expressed concern over the possibility of I-14 being routed through populated areas, especially predominantly Black neighborhoods. Many said they felt interstate construction in the 70s was purposely routed thorough poor and minority areas as a way to “clean up urban blight.”

Some also expressed concern that the southerly route cuts through the Old Cahawba Forever Wild land tract and runs too close to Old Cahawba Park, potentially affecting the quiet and serene nature of the area. Many expressed concern that the northerly route would displace too many people.

All in attendance said they support an interstate highway through Dallas County. They said it would bring people for tourism and development. It was brought up that when I-40 was built, taking travelers off of Route 66, many towns along the route fell into decline. Spalding said that is part of what he is studying. Right now, there are no data to support either the possibility of the interstate bringing prosperity or harm.

It is still early in the study, and Spalding said he has several areas to yet to explore. According to his presentation, he will study the impact along rights of way for each route using census data. He will also conduct focus groups and a survey to measure community preference in the spring of 2024.