Officials celebrate 157 opening

DANVILLE - Gov. Bob Riley joined local and state officials Friday to officially celebrate the completion of the Alabama 157 four-lane project that will give northwest Alabama residents better access to the interstate.

The project provides a four-lane highway from the Shoals to Cullman, where motorists can get on Interstate 65. The highway extends through parts of Colbert, Lawrence, Cullman and Morgan counties.

Discussions involving the four-lane highway began in the 1950s under former Gov. Jim Folsom Sr., but changes in federal guidelines at the time resulted in a two-lane highway being built. Work on the additional two lanes began in 1983.

"I never thought I would see it in my lifetime," said Leighton Mayor Lawayne Harrison, who traveled to Morgan County for the ceremony. "This will funnel a lot more traffic through Leighton, especially to the Robert Trent Jones golf course."

About 150 people gathered at Danville Church of Christ, which is approximately five miles southeast of Speake, as Riley and local officials took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marking the project's completion.

"Back in the early '80s, I had the opportunity to drive this road every week going to Moulton, and it used to irritate me to no end to see construction or lack of construction on it," Riley said.

According to a release by the governor's office, about $57.3 million of the money spent on the project has been awarded since Riley took office in 2003.

"In the past, we have had all kinds of shenanigans pulled on this road," said state Sen. Bobby Denton, D-Muscle Shoals. "Different administrations all built roads where they wanted to build them, not where we needed them. But, we will all enjoy this for the rest of our lives and for generations to come."

Officials believe the more convenient access to the interstate will help attract industries and businesses that might have looked elsewhere in the past.

"This is going to make a big difference for Moulton," said Moulton Mayor Ray Alexander. "I see a lot of good things coming from this."

Alexander said traffic counts show that about 14,000 vehicles pass the city along Alabama 157 each day.

"I hope that increases by about 4,000 or 5,000 now," he said. "If it does, it will only help us draw more people to Moulton."

State Sen. Zeb Little, D-Cullman, said the completion of the four-lane highway will enhance north Alabama's ability to attract industries for economic growth, but it also will make travel safer through the area.

"Companies all over the world are looking to relocate and this will help us," Little said. "But, we all have probably known someone who has been hurt or killed on a two-lane road. We needed a four-lane highway on 157 to save precious lives."

Charles Garner lives in the Massey community just south of where Friday's celebration took place.

He said he has known several people who have been hurt or killed along the road through the years and is glad to see it finally completed.

"I helped survey the power lines when work on it started and that was 40 years ago," Garner said, recalling when the original two lanes were built.

"I have never seen anything go so slow, but they finally got it done," he said.

Riley told the crowd that he believes north Alabama will be open to new possibilities thanks to the road's completion.

"It's going to make a dramatic difference in your lives. It will make your life better," he said. "You have got a four-lane that opens the rest of the world to you."

Jonathan Willis can be reached at 332-0140 or jonathan.willis@timesdaily.com.