Alabama bridge and highway project gets clearance

Environmental clearance has been awarded by the US 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. This project has been subject to an environmental review for around 20 years. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) says it has worked closely with the FHWA to attain the environmental clearance for the project, which is expected to cost around US$2.1 billion. With this clearance having been given, ALDOT can now issue requests for proposals for the project, which will be carried out under the PPP model, a first for Alabama. The centrepiece for the plan calls for a new 800m bridge spanning the Mobile River and carrying three lanes of traffic for I-10 in either direction. In all work will be carried out along a 16km section of I-10, with the work including new Bayway bridges and seven improved interchanges.

The target is to award the design, build, operate concession package by the end of 2019. The schedule calls for the bridge to be complete by 2025, with the concession package being for a 55-year period. The I-10 Mobile bridge will be tolled between Virginia Street in Mobile and the US98/US90 interchange in Daphne. However there has been some local resistance to this plan, with proposals for the route to be tolled having caused discontent. ALDOT says that discounts and other cost saving options will be available for local drivers using the link regularly.