There's nothing more frustrating than being caught in traffic, it's a story some of us know all too well thanks to I-65. In Mobile, I-65 has 4 lanes, but when you get closer to Saraland, those lanes go down to 2. Which can make traffic even worse. That's why Alabama lawmakers have passed a resolution asking ALDOT to do a study about widening I-65. Even Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth has spoken out about the headaches that I-65 causes motorists, saying the gridlock of the roadway hurts Alabama’s economic development.

"I-65 does need to be looked at. I think it's inadequate for the traffic that it handles in particular during vacation times and hurricane times," says Baldwin County Senator, Greg Albritton.

Lawmakers passed a resolution asking ALDOT to do a study about widening 1-65, all the way from Tennessee to the Gulf Coast.

"I think that all that we can do is the beginning stages, and that is to do a study on the traffic counts and the feasibility of that. Dealing with the traffic patterns and the accidents and such," says Albritton.

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth took to social media about widening the highway last month. He says he has proposed expanding I-65 to 6 lanes because he says it's gridlock hurts economic development, frustrates travelers, and raises questions about how tax dollars are being spent.

In a statement from ALDOT they say they are committed to addressing Alabama’s capacity needs and are already looking at the most congested segments of I-65 as well as other roadways, as required by the Rebuild Alabama Act. ALDOT goes onto say that they have several projects planned around I-65, but the farthest those projects will go to is to Shelby County.

Senator Greg Albritton says he is in favor of aldot looking to widen roadways in our area, but there are other things that should be pushed to the front lines.

"I'm also in favor of other expansions and other developments that are needful, I.E., Mobile River Bridge," says Albritton.

The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project is slated to cost $2.7 billion. NBC 15 told you in March that ALDOT applied for a $500 million grant to help cover some of that cost, but they were rejected. The lack of grant money hasn't slowed down the process of the project though-- officials say the project is still financially viable and slated to be completed by 2028.

"Mobile River Bridge is a higher priority than any other major road project in the state," says Albritton.

According to an ALDOT spokesperson, they are currently working on the design and planning for widening I-65 from 4 lanes to 6 lanes along I-65. From exit 13, which is state route 158, to exit 15 in Saraland. They also plan to widen the I-65 bridges over state road 158 from a 2 lane road to a 3 lane road. Construction for that project will begin in the Summer of 2024.