Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford described as &uot;probable&uot; a scenario in which a major interstate will run from Florida to Montgomery, coming right by, and possibly through, Troy.

&uot;We'd like to know that when it leaves Dothan, it will come by Troy. The other option would be to go by Columbus, Georgia,&uot; Lunsford said.

The interstate, which is described as an I-10 connector, will link I-10 in Florida to the interstate networks in Montgomery. I-10 runs the length of Florida's panhandle and across the lower United States through New Orleans and Houston.

&uot;We have a group, made up of people from Dothan, Montgomery, Ozark, Troy and several of the smaller communities in between, that meets and discusses the connector,&uot; Lunsford said.

Describing the project as a long-term goal that could be 15 years away from completion, Lunsford said he had attended a meeting in Florida with Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to discuss the mega-highway.

&uot;Riley and Bush were all for it,&uot; he said.

&uot;The I-10 connector to Montgomery will be an interstate will run from I-10 by Dothan and up to the outer loop of Montgomery's I-65 and I-85. It's probable that it will come here. It could go east or west of Troy,&uot; Lunsford said.

&uot;It's a 15-year project, but you can't wait until then to get started,&uot; he said.

Stephen Stetson can be reached at stephen.stetson @troymessenger.com.