Good things happen to those that wait.

This may be true for the residents of Valley Grande and Dallas County. The maxim relates to the expansion of Hwy. 22. The widening of the 6.2 mile-stretch from the north of Selma to County Road 63 is expected to be complete in 2005 or 2006 and the cost of such is estimated at $10 million according to some estimates.

The waiting what some people are concerned with.

If it were up to Rex Thompson, district engineer for the Alabama Highway Department the wait would not be prolonged more than needed.

There are five stages according to Thompson in a project of this size.

It begins with developing the plan, buying the right-of-way, construction and final approval by the state.

With this many stages delays are inevitable.

The question that many residents of the county are asking is when.

Reasons for the question are different. Some anticipate the sale of homes; others are not looking forward to the sale.

Business owners will be affected as will many other residents that have homes along highway 22.

The good thing to know is that this project is happening and now it is only a matter of time, whereas the I-85 development is still up

in the air waiting on funding and the go ahead from those in power.

When Hwy. 22 is completed the benefits are going to come for years and years.

The town of Valley Grande has already seen growth with the success of its very first shopping center.

Now it seems that the town will actually be able to offer an alternative location for businesses.

If Hwy. 22 is a sign of things to come, then we as a county need to hold on for a good ride.