By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
If people in Florida need to evacuate, Alabama has created another way to help them do it.
After more than 40 years in the making, Alabama 113 is now a four-lane roadway that completes a thoroughfare through Escambia County, Fla., into and through Escambia County, Ala., connecting Gulf Coast residents to I-65 north.
On hand for a special ribbon cutting celebration Wednesday were state officials, including Alabama Gov. Bob Riley.
Riley praised Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant for his work in making the four-lane road a reality.
Bondurant, along with a group of officials from Florida and Alabama, traveled to Montgomery and even to Washington, D.C., in an effort to push the plan for four-laning Alabama 113, Riley said.
Escambia County Commissioner Larry White, who serves the district the road is in, said a storm more than 10 years ago brought the need for the project into focus.
White said the group of leaders heading up the efforts for the project performed above and beyond the call of duty.
White said residents of Escambia County and the city of Flomaton deserve to be proud of the project.
Alabama Transportation Director Joe McInnes said the work didn't come any time before it was needed or welcomed.
McInnes said he knew the project has had a long history and completing of this type work is a difficult task.
The project, which held a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2007, was completed well ahead of a target date, Riley said.
Several officials mentioned the new roadway could also be beneficial by way of economic growth in the area in coming months.
Bondurant modestly spoke of his involvement in the project and gave credit to others on the team of officials involved in the efforts.
The evacuation corridor was made possible through funds provided by several agencies. The Town of Flomaton contributed $500,000, as did the Escambia County Commission. Escambia County, Fla., contributed $4 million to the effort with the remaining costs paid through state funds. The total cost of the project was $22.7 million. The 13.5-mile stretch of roadway included work to widen the road from a two-lane to a four-lane divided highway and included grading, drainage work, pavement and a new four-span, 204-foot bridge.
The project was initially expected to be completed by Spring 2009, however through the dedicated work of Wall's Construction of Evergreen brought the project in ahead of that deadline. The project is expected to be fully complete next month.