Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Not that is a surprise, did anyone thing these projects would be done? This is mainly the University drive widening project.
North Alabama once again being held hostage by aldot, always looking for an excuse to not complete anything north of the Tennessee River.
Since when did this so called director become king?

from al.com

The director of the Alabama Department of Transportation said he halted road projects in a north Alabama senator's district because of a billboard the senator put up critical of Gov. Robert Bentley.

John Cooper, an appointee of Bentley, said he thought Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison went "over the line" when Holtzclaw rented space on a billboard that said, "Governor Bentley wants to raise your taxes. I will not let that happen. Semper Fi - Senator Bill Holtzclaw." Holtzclaw served in the Marines.

"I simply thought the billboard was just a step too far," Cooper said.

Yellowhammer reported the story.

Cooper told AL.com he did not know a specific number of projects he ordered stopped, but said they would have cost in the range of $100 million over the next two to three years.

"If Sen. Holtzclaw is that concerned with taxes I think he probably would be uncomfortable with us spending tax money in his district, so I pulled the projects," Cooper said.

Bentley announced last week that he would propose a $700 million tax increase to close a shortfall in the General Fund budget.

Bentley also said at that time, in response to questions about whether he would try to strong-arm legislators into supporting his plan by threatening to withhold project funds: "We will look more favorably on areas of the state that really do want to support our budget."

Cooper said today that Bentley did not instruct him to stop the projects. He said he informed Bentley about his decision in a phone call but declined to say how the governor reacted.

"I didn't see or hear any reaction," Cooper said.