For several years, ALDOT has worked closely with state and local elected officials in Etowah County to bring about a project to meaningfully improve traffic flow on SR-77 with a new northbound bridge over the Coosa River.
In a major step toward realizing that vision, Transportation Director John Cooper has awarded the contract for construction of a replacement for the Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge — commonly referred to as the “Little Bridge.”
Following her approval of the contract last week, Governor Kay Ivey today announced the award of the contract to Scott Bridge Company of Opelika.
“For almost 90 years, the Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge has carried increasing traffic volume across the Coosa River between Southside and Rainbow City,” said Gov. Ivey. “Even after the addition of the larger southbound bridge, congestion remains a problem for northbound traffic on the older bridge. The construction of a new two-lane bridge for northbound traffic is good news for the 25,000 travelers who cross the Coosa River on SR-77 each day.”
The Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, a truss bridge constructed in 1939, originally served all traffic on the corridor.
Following construction of a larger southbound bridge in 1979, what came to be known as the “Little Bridge” became the northbound bridge.
‘Regional need’
“A new northbound Southside bridge has been a regional need for a long time,” said Sen. Andrew Jones. “This critical infrastructure project will alleviate traffic congestion for hardworking men and women, and also make the drive to school easier for parents and students in Southside and Rainbow City.
“I would like to thank Governor Kay Ivey for her leadership and vision for the Rebuild Alabama program, without which this project would not be possible.”
The project is funded through a combination of state and federal funding, including a $3 million appropriation secured by U.S. senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt and Congressman Mike Rogers.
“Eight years ago, I promised to find a way to replace the aging SR-77 ‘Southside’ bridge, which had become a safety concern and a major obstacle to traffic and economic growth,” said state Rep. Craig Lipscomb. “I never wavered in that commitment, and I’m proud to have worked alongside Governor Kay Ivey to make this long-overdue project a reality. I’m deeply grateful for her leadership and partnership in delivering on this promise and investing in a safer, stronger future for our community.”
Bid opening
ALDOT opened bids for the project Sept. 25.
Of four bidders, contractor Scott Bridge Company submitted the low bid of $22,065,595.
Bids for the project ranged to nearly $35 million.
Project details
The project will remove the 87-year-old bridge and replace it with a modern two-lane bridge. The bridge will carry two 12-foot travel lanes with 6-foot shoulders on both sides.
In addition to being 36 feet wide, the bridge will be 910 feet long and will rise to about 30 feet over the Coosa River.
The existing bridge is 20 feet wide, 868 feet long, and stands about 10 feet above the river.
ALDOT anticipates the project beginning in early 2027 and achieving completion by the end of 2029.
Intersection changes
The elevation at the north end of the bridge will only increase slightly due to the bridge’s proximity to the intersection of SR-77 with Lakeshore Drive/Whorton Bend Road.
The project includes installation of a traffic signal and turn lanes on SR-77 at Lakeshore Drive/Whorton Bend Road. ALDOT originally proposed a Restricted Crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersection during public involvement. After further evaluation, engineers determined that signalization is warranted and projected traffic would make a signal necessary in the near future.
South of the bridge, the signal at Fowler’s Ferry Road will be removed, as will the crossover between the northbound and southbound roadways.
Anticipated traffic impacts
During most of the project, northbound traffic will be diverted to the southbound bridge. The southbound bridge will carry one lane of traffic in each direction.
Visit ALGOTraffic.com of download the ALGO Traffic app for real-time traffic updates and road condition information.
