Public hearing on toll road Tuesday in Cottondale

COTTONDALE – Jackson County residents want some answers about the proposed limited-access toll road from Alabama, and a public hearing has been set up for Tuesday, June 24 at the Cottondale Civic Center on Front Street (US 231) from 7-9 p.m.

The meeting has been organized by private citizens who want details about the project, according to reports in local media. Bill Stanton, executive director of the Jackson County Development Council, is expected to be at the meeting according to published reports. Stanton has gone on record supporting the project because it could increase the possibility of recruiting industry.

The proposed toll road planned for Washington County was shot down earlier this month by a 3-2 vote of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners. A large number of citizens attended public hearings in May and June, and many who spoke expressed their dissatisfaction with the amount of information presented about the toll road. Chipley Mayor Linda Cain was also on hand to announce the city council’s opposition to the proposal.

The planned road would begin south of Montgomery, AL and cut just west of Dothan, AL. The road would then go south parallel to US 231 to the Campbellton area in Jackson County.

Plans presented in Washington County showed the toll road going south through the Alligator Creek area in Washington County to link with Interstate 10 west of Chipley. Supporters said this was Phase I of the project. No details were released of any other phases.

The road would be limited access with just a few interchanges and would provide a more direct link between Alabama and the new international airport being built at West Bay just north of Panama City.

Counties in Alabama affected by the toll road have already given their support for the project.