The issue: Promises of four-laning U.S. 80.

Our position:

We’ll believe it when we see construction finished.

Most years are about the same when it comes to promises that state officials can’t keep.

It appears 2008 won’t be any different.

Many residents in the Black Belt region have waited for the four-laning of US. 80 from Montgomery to the Mississippi line.

Once again, the project is on the list. Joe McInnes, director of the Alabama Department of Transportation says he hopes to complete this project during the next three years.

But, as the Bard would say, here’s the rub: There are other projects also planned during the next three years, and there’s not a lot of money to work with.

In fact, McInnes is advocating toll roads as a pay-as-you-go method of seeing highway construction in this state.

There are other widening projects: U.S. 431 between Seale and Eufaula; U.S. 411 from Gadsden to the Cherokee County line, U.S. 43 in Lauderdale County, U.S. 82 from Tuscaloosa to Reform,

U.S. 98 in Mobile and U.S. 84, going west from Andalusia.

It’s nice to be on the list, but nobody will hold their breath to see if construction is completed within the next three years.