Highway 98 project hits
obstacles

MOBILE, Ala. - Two things prevent the Highway 98 project from seeing huge progress according to the Alabama Department of Transportation. One is a lawsuit from the State Attorney General's Office. The other holdup is a different lawsuit from Mobile Area Water and Sewer Service.

"As soon as we resolve those remaining legal issues, we will know a lot better the time line we will be on towards progressing on this highway," says Tony Harris with Alabama Department of Transportation.

Both lawsuits are asking for the project to be environmentally friendly. You may recall construction stopped for fourteen weeks after environmental violations were discovered.

Muddy runoff from the site reached mobile's water supply, prompting lawsuits. Officials say many people have called their office to ask about the progress.

The only part of the project that hasn't seen any contract work is the area between Snow and Schillinger Roads.

And that's because of the two lawsuits. The good thing is that once the lawsuits are settled, things can continue. The bad part officials say they have no idea when that will happen.

The project was originally supposed to cost $21 million. But because of setbacks and delays officials say that number will be more than double than that amount.