TheTrucker.com

Groups approve $2.7B plan for new bridge, highway at Mobile

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Groups approve $2.7B plan for new bridge, highway at Mobile
A $2.7 billion plan to ease traffic along the northern Gulf Coast in Alabama with the construction of a new Interstate 10 bridge and highway through Mobile has taken a step forward with approval from two key planning organizations.
AP22209562778928
Traffic crawls through the Wallace Tunnel on Interstate 10 in Mobile, Ala., in this file photo from Dec. 11, 2014. A $2.7 billion plan to ease traffic along the northern Gulf Coast in Alabama with the construction of a new Interstate 10 bridge and highway through Mobile has taken a step forward. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

MOBILE, Ala. — A $2.7 billion plan to ease traffic along the northern Gulf Coast in Alabama with the construction of a new Interstate 10 bridge and highway through Mobile has taken a step forward with approval from two key planning organizations.

Stalled for years in part because of questions over tolls, the project won the endorsement Wednesday of metropolitan planning groups on both sides of Mobile Bay. Construction could begin as early as next year, officials said.

The project, which includes construction of a tall bridge over the Mobile River and a replacement of I-10 over Mobile Bay just east of downtown, could be complete by late 2028 if work begins next year, state transportation officials have said.

The work was estimated to cost $2.1 billion in 2019, but public opposition over plans to charge cars one-way tolls of as much as $6 led to delays. Under the new plans, passenger vehicles would pay a maximum toll of $2.50 and trucks would pay as much as $18, a state report said, but free routes would still be available.

The price of the project — which officials say is needed in part to make hurricane evacuations easier — increased more than 25% as officials tried to work out a way to quiet opposition.

Nearly 100,000 cars and trucks use the current system of tunnels and bridges that cross Mobile Bay and the Mobile River, contributing to snarls on roads that were designed for only 35,000 vehicles a day.

The president of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, Casey Williams, said the new bridge is essential.

“Business and industry are the heartbeat of our economy and the bridge is critical to moving coastal Alabama forward,” he said in a statement.

A report from Alabama’s highway department said work would be funded with $250 million from the state; $625 million in federal grants; $1.2 billion in bonds and $1.1 in federal loans, with toll revenue used to pay the debt.

 

The Associated Press Logo

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. The Trucker Media Group is subscriber of The Associated Press has been granted the license to use this content on TheTrucker.com and The Trucker newspaper in accordance with its Content License Agreement with The Associated Press.

Avatar for The Associated Press
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. The Trucker Media Group is subscriber of The Associated Press has been granted the license to use this content on TheTrucker.com and The Trucker newspaper in accordance with its Content License Agreement with The Associated Press.
For over 30 years, the objective of The Trucker editorial team has been to produce content focused on truck drivers that is relevant, objective and engaging. After reading this article, feel free to leave a comment about this article or the topics covered in this article for the author or the other readers to enjoy. Let them know what you think! We always enjoy hearing from our readers.

COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE