Alabama Secures Funding for $3.2B Mobile Bridge and Bayway Project

Major Development in Alabama's Infrastructure: Funding Secured for Mobile River Bridge Project

MOBILE, Ala. — The much-anticipated Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project in Alabama has reached a pivotal stage with the completion of necessary financing. The Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority announced the full funding for the $3.2 billion Phase One, marking a significant milestone ahead of the project's full-scale construction.

This ambitious undertaking is supported by a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan amounting to $2.52 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau, alongside successfully marketed bonds.

The secured financing covers the entire cost of the first phase, which includes constructing a six-lane cable-stayed bridge over the Mobile River and expanding the existing Bayway to six lanes.

Years of collaboration between the State of Alabama, ALDOT, the Authority, and federal entities culminated in this financial achievement. The federal contribution comprises TIFIA financing, a $550 million Bridge Investment Program grant, and a $125 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant, supported by substantial state investments.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey remarked, “President Trump and Secretary Duffy are once again proving this Administration is dedicated to making generational change across the country, and this major infrastructure investment in Alabama’s Gulf Coast will make monumental improvements for travel and commerce across the region. This advancement marks the final piece needed for the decades-awaited Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. Once it is completed, this project will finally alleviate our traffic gridlock across Mobile Bay.”

According to Transportation Director John Cooper, “This is the point where years of planning become construction. The financing is in place, the construction price is established, and we’re ready to build. The support and flexibility provided at the federal level have been extraordinary and were essential to getting us here.”

The project faced financial challenges due to rising costs and engineering hurdles, prompting a restructured approach. Federal accommodations allowed for a phased project, maintaining the commitment to eventually replace the Bayway. This phased methodology is becoming more prevalent in large-scale infrastructure projects nationwide.

Phase One involves constructing the new Mobile River Bridge and modifying the existing Bayway to offer three lanes in both directions. About one mile of the Bayway will be reconstructed, incorporating enhancements across the I-10 corridor in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Designed to facilitate hazardous-material freight, which is currently redirected through local roads due to restrictions in the Wallace Tunnel, the new bridge aims to alleviate congestion and improve travel times on I-10, along with better access to the Port of Mobile.

Tolling will commence once Phase One is operational, projected for late 2031, while several routes, including the Wallace Tunnel, will continue to serve as toll-free alternatives. A $3 ALGO Pass rate per trip for passenger vehicles and a $60 monthly pass for unlimited crossings will be available.

The project, revived in 2021 after a halt in 2019, aligns with local planning priorities and reflects a synergistic effort among federal, state, and local partners.

Initial construction actions, such as geotechnical work and site preparation, are underway. With financing finalized, ALDOT plans to authorize the design-build team to advance with full construction starting October 1.

Completion of the new bridge and associated improvements is anticipated within the next five years.

For the full press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation, click here.