WASHINGTON – With the increasing interest in developing a new federal highway route in the Southeast, U.S. Representative Artur Davis is calling for a regional summit to promote collaboration between the Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi congressional delegations.

Davis offered the suggestion today in Mobile at a regional transportation event hosted by 1^st District U.S. Representative Jo Bonner. 

“There is a growing momentum for an expanded interstate system in the South.  To make this prospect a reality in the next 10 years, the Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia delegations will have to combine forces and political capital. 

Several proposals are currently on the table including an extension of I-3 and I-14 through the tri-state region as well as a interstate corridor joining Alabama north to south.  Davis has advocated for the expansion of I-85 through the Black Belt to Meridian, a path which would finally provide interstate coverage for the historically isolated Black Belt.  With all of these options on the table, he says the time for dialogue and planning is now.

“If we split into competing factions, or throw small sums of money at separate projects, none of these plans will be successful.  The summit would be the beginning of an effort to unite around one feasible plan.”

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