The expansion of Highway 22 north of Selma may be slower than expected.

The widening of the 6.2-mile stretch from the north of Selma to County Road 63 could cost $10 million according to some estimates, with completion expected in 2005 or 2006.

The road would consist of four driving lanes and a center lane for turning, just like the already-completed section in Selma.

It is the most significant

highway project in Dallas County in the past two decades, according to Rex Thompson, district engineer for the Alabama Highway Department.

Probate Judge Johnny Jones said that the Highway 22 project is especially important since the incorporation of Valley Grande as a town this past year.

“The highway project will have a major impact; it will be excellent for the community in general and business in particular.”

Thompson said that “slower-than-expected”

is not unusual in large-scale construction projects such as highways and bridges. At every stage, from developing the plan, to buying right-of-way, to

construction,

to final approval by the state at the end, delays are possible.

A required “plan in hand” by the department has not yet been completed. The plan in hand requires

a meeting of a group in Montgomery that pours over the plans developed by consulting firm Goodwyn, Mills and Bawood, and then makes changes as necessary.

Apparently, the crucial meeting is scheduled this week in Montgomery, according to an unidentified source.

According to Thompson, it’s a two-day meeting, in which he as district engineer will participate. The first day is spent around a table looking at the plans, the second actually traveling the length of the proposed expansion to get a first-hand look at the details. That examination, Thompson said, can result in some last-minutes changes to take into account the location of businesses and residences in relation to the proposed route.

Thompson hopes that there will not be many changes in the plan, and that the highway department will approve the plan so that the buying of right-of-way can begin. If completion of the plan in hand goes quickly, he said, then appraisals of more than 100 parcels which will need to be bought can begin, and following appraisals actual discussions with property owners.

Owners, he said, will be offered what is considered to be fair market value.

“We want owners to be compensated fairly for their property, but we cannot allow owners to take advantage of the state’s need for the land. So it’s a balancing of interests,” he said.

Thompson hopes the plan will be completed by the end of June and appraisals done quickly, so that negotiations with landowners may begin as early as July.

The best-case scenario, according to Thompson is 90-120 days to complete right-of-way purchases.

If the state has to go to a condemnation procedure on some of the parcels, that will lengthen the process, he said. But given the economic value to the region he believes most owners will want to cooperate.

As soon as right-of-way purchases are completed, then bids can be put out. Thompson said that getting a contract could take a total of 30-60 days, based on past experience. And once a general contractor has been selected, the firm must begin construction within 15 days, he said.

There are no incentive payments for completing the project early, Thompson said, but there are penalties for not completing on time.