On Monday, July 29, federal, state and local stakeholders celebrated the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) receiving $550 million for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project.
This significant grant is part of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Investing in America program, announced earlier this month by U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The program includes more than $5 billion in Large Bridge Project awards through the FHWA’s competitive Bridge Investment Program, a key element of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
The event, held at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico in downtown Mobile, was introduced by Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Fairhope City Council President Jack Burrell, who both serve as chairs of their local Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Leaders acknowledged not only how important the grant funding is for the project to move forward but also the impact a new bridge will have on the region.
“Probably within a 20-mile area from right here, there’s probably $10-$12 billion dollars’ worth of projects that will improve the economic development of this area.” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “I would venture to say that without the bridge, that none of them would be optimized or maximized if you did not have the bridge. We can have the airport downtown. We can deepen and widen the channel, but the thing that pulls it together from a transportation standpoint, is that we’ve got to have the bridge,” said Stimpson.
“The support from the Federal Highway Administration and the Investing in America grant is invaluable,” said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. “We got the ball rolling now. We’re not going to stop. We’re going to get it done,” said Ivey.
“The Federal Highway Administration is pleased to provide $550 million, one of our largest Bridge Investment Program grant awards, to the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “This grant will help Alabama advance a critical bridge project that will improve safety and reliability for everyone traveling through Mobile, Alabama and along Interstate 10, which is an important corridor for moving people and goods that contribute to our national economy.”
Alabama Senator Katie Britt emphasized the project’s broader impact: “This funding is a game-changer for Alabama. It will create jobs, support local businesses, and ensure that our transportation infrastructure can meet future demands.”
ALDOT’s Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project manager Edwin Perry says ALDOT is still in the design phase, with about 40-50 percent of that completed. He says ALDOT is in the process of applying for a federal low-interest loan, known as a TIFIA loan. The state can borrow up to 49% of the project cost.
“At the start of the next year, we’ll probably have a better handle on that loan amount to be able to really count on what we’re going to be able to get from TIFIA,” said Perry.
Perry says the state is following the framework set by the Metropolitan Planning Organizations to charge a $2.50 toll, with discounts for commuters, that was agreed upon with local leaders. Ivey committed again on Monday to eliminate them once the project is paid for. The repayment period for a TIFIA loan is up to 35 years, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allows up to 75 years for some projects.
As the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project moves forward, ALDOT will continue to engage with stakeholders and the community to ensure its successful implementation, reinforcing Alabama’s commitment to building a safer and more resilient transportation network.
