Gov. Bob Riley wants to explore the idea of building an elevated toll road to relieve traffic congestion on U.S. 280 in Alabama.

“I’m not saying this is what we are going to do, this is only an option,” Riley told The Birmingham News. “I don’t want to do anything the community doesn’t want to do.”

Riley and state and federal transportation officials gathered late last month at a Progress 280 meeting to hear Tallahassee, FL, bridge designer Linda Figg of Figg Engineering Group talk about what her firm has done to alleviate similar traffic problems elsewhere.

Figg told those at the meeting in Vestavia Hills, AL, that an elevated road could be built down the median of U.S. 280, a four-lane divided highway that stretches from southeast Birmingham to northwest Alexander City, without the state needing to purchase additional rights of way.

Specifics on the width and length of the road, costs and where access points would be could be determined after further studies, Figg said.

Alabama Department of Transportation Director Joe McInnes told the newspaper he thinks that charging for use of the road “would get it done more quickly, and tolls would provide funds to go with state and federal money.”

Progress 280, a group of politicians, business people and residents, will take the next steps in exploring the possibilities.