ALDOT Announces New Team for $3.5 Billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has appointed Kiewit Massman Traylor (KMT) as the joint venture team responsible for the highly anticipated $3.5 billion Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. With testing on concrete pilings set to commence soon, major concerns regarding the project’s final cost and financing remain unresolved.
KMT brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked on the cable-stayed bridge section of the project located south of downtown Mobile. The announcement comes in the wake of ALDOT terminating negotiations with the previously appointed Mobile Bayway Constructors, indicating a decisive shift in project management. Ed Austin, ALDOT’s chief engineer, expressed optimism about the new team’s commitment to the project.
Constructing a new six-lane, 215-foot-tall cable-stay bridge along with an elevated Bayway that stretches over 7 miles to Daphne, the project aims to alleviate severe traffic congestion. The existing infrastructure struggles to handle nearly 100,000 vehicles daily, far exceeding its designed capacity of 35,000.
A significant funding boost came last summer with a $550 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program, complementing ALDOT’s ongoing application for a federal loan under the TIFIA program, which could cover approximately 49% of the project costs.
Public concerns have previously derailed the initiative, especially regarding a proposed public-private partnership and toll plans. ALDOT aims for a transparent, publicly-owned project completion with a foundational toll rate set at $2.50 for one-way trips.
While initial work is set to begin this month, ALDOT is eager to finalize the project’s total costs to ensure timely funding and execution. A groundbreaking event is anticipated later this year, signaling a significant step forward in addressing traffic issues on Alabama’s major thoroughfare.
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