Resident urges halt to new Wares Ferry Road interchange study, cites historic-property and equity concerns

Dr. J.R. Brown told the Montgomery County Commission on Jan. 7 that she objects to a county contribution toward a new study of a proposed Wares Ferry Road interchange at I‑85, saying the work would threaten historic family property and disproportionately affect low‑income people of color in Mount Meigs and Cecil.

Brown, a resident who identified her address as West Ferry Road, said the proposed study would be the third such review of the interchange and that the Federal Highway Administration previously found a similar interchange infeasible because the outer loop is less than a mile away. “This is really a dangerous area. It's not in the best interest of the community,” she said, adding the interchange would cross two of her properties and take valuable, historic land where her family has lived for more than 200 years.

The comment drew responses from county officials. Chairman Singleton told Brown that Montgomery County did not plan the project, and that the Alabama Department of Transportation approached the county to participate in the study. “Actually, Montgomery County Commission didn't plan it. It was ALDOT that approached us,” he said. Commissioner Sankey said he shared concerns about public notice and participation, noting the Federal Highway Administration and the Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization previously flagged the region's public‑participation practices as deficient.

Brown raised traffic and safety concerns and suggested alternatives to an interchange, including installing lights and cameras, adding signage and speed control measures, lowering speed limits in curves and near bridges, and adding speed bumps where appropriate. She also criticized repeated annexation by the town of Pike Road, saying that annexations have increased traffic and development pressures on the Mount Meigs and Cecil communities without adequate local input.

Brown also cited prior spending tied to related projects, saying about $1,000,000 was spent on the nearby outer loop, and asked the commission to avoid “ineffectively and inefficiently spending more time and dollars building roads and highways with poor designs.” County leaders suggested she submit a written brief of her concerns to county staff; a staff member identified in the meeting as Kendall was asked to collect any written materials Brown would provide.

Why it matters: The interchange would involve state and federal agencies and could affect historic property, traffic patterns and low‑income residents in unincorporated parts of Montgomery County. Brown's comments highlighted concerns about community notice and the planning process for regional transportation projects that require coordination among ALDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The commission did not take any formal action on the interchange during the meeting; county officials said only that ALDOT had invited the county to participate in a feasibility study and that FHWA involvement would be required for construction on a federal interstate.