Ivey Proposes Taylor Hardin Expansion, Announces Hwy 43 Project

Tuscaloosa AL

03 February, 2021

7:46 AM

Description

MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivered her 2021 State of the State Address Tuesday night, which made mention of two projects focused on Tuscaloosa that will have a statewide impact. Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletters and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices for free. You can also support local journalism by donating as little as $5 a month to become a supporting member or by downloading our free Patch mobile app. The first among these initiatives mentioned is a renewed emphasis on bolstering mental health services in Alabama, as the governor announced a proposed investment of $46 million to expand the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility in Tuscaloosa by 96 beds, in addition to allocating another $6 million for a new crisis diversion center. At present, the Alabama Hospital Association reports a total of 140 licensed beds at Taylor Hardin, with the proposed expansion coming as Alabama's need for expanded bed space grows at a pace that is difficult to ignore. In terms of local response, the Tuscaloosa Police Department recently reported that its officers responded to 62 calls in January involving someone with a mental health concern, along with another 22 involving a suicidal person. TPD says if that trend continues, the department expects approximately 1,000 of these mental health-related calls by the end of the current year. Located on Jack Warner Parkway and first opened in 1981, Taylor Hardin provides psychiatric evaluation and treatment to the criminally committed throughout Alabama, as well as forensic evaluations to criminal courts for the state. According to the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Taylor Hardin is the only maximum security forensic facility operated by the department. "Building upon the personal commitment of Governor Lurleen Wallace, my administration will maintain our commitment to provide critical evaluation and treatment of our most vulnerable population regardless of their present circumstances," she said, referencing the late 46th governor of the state who was an outspoken advocate for mental health reform. HIGHWAY 43 PROJECT Talk eventually turned to the Rebuild Alabama program, a sweeping infrastructure initiative which Ivey said she has supported since her second day on the job. Ivey said in the first year of this program, Alabama invested more than $127 million in AutaugaCherokee, Limestone, Madison, and Tuscaloosa counties on projects to provide interstate connectivity and needed repairs. "Friends, it doesn't stop there," she said. "Tonight, I'm proud to announce we are moving forward with a project that other governors have talked about but, until now, no one has been able to do. Later this year, we're going to turn the shovel on a long discussed four-lane Highway 43 from Thomasville to Tuscaloosa." The governor said the Highway 43 project will provide interstate connectivity and economic development opportunities for many rural counties in Alabama's Black Belt between the cities of Mobile and Tuscaloosa. She then announced plans to connect two more rural counties with four-lane access in Geneva and Fayette counties. "Folks, our roads are the arteries of Alabama's commerce," she said. "These projects are just a few of the many that we'll use to open doors of opportunity to all our people." Click here to read a full transcript of Ivey's State of the State Address. Follow Patch here for updates or on Facebook and Twitter.