Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, along with state and federal dignitaries, were on hand at the National Maritime Museum (GulfQuest) on Monday to celebrate major funding for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project.
Joining Ivey were U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, U.S. Senator Kay Britt (R-Montgomery), U.S. Representative Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Fairhope City Council President and Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairman Jack Burrell, and other state and local officials.
A total of $550 million was provided for the $3 billion project via the Bridge Investment Program. The project is hoped to ease pressure on the Wallace Tunnel, which handles up to 75,000 vehicles daily.
“Investing in the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project is not just good for Mobile and for Alabama, it’s good for our country,” Ivey said. “This is a critical national corridor, and it simply would not be possible without this significant national backing. Both Senator Britt and Congressman Carl were instrumental in championing this project.
“This is how dollars should be invested, and I commend our federal government for sending these dollars to Sweet Home Alabama. It’s one of the largest federal grants in our state’s history, and that’s no small thing. I am proud that we are one step closer to breaking ground for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project. We will continue to aggressively pursue this project because this is a top priority for our administration.”
“None of this happens without federal, regional, and state collaboration,” said Stimpson. “This gives us a shot in the arm so we can continue with the project. Probably within a 20-mile area from right here, there’s probably $10-$12 billion worth of projects that would improve the economic development of this area. I would venture to say that without the bridge, none of them would be optimized or maximize if you did not have the bridge.
“We can have the airport downtown. We can deepen and widen the channel, but the thing that pulls it together from a transportation standpoint is that we’ve got to have the bridge.”
“This is an important project for Mobile, for Alabama, and the entire country,” said Bhatt. “Transportation is one of the things we as Americans can truly come together on; it’s one of the few times that binds people together.
“I want people to understand that Alabama is getting $5 billion for roads and bridges, and there is $12.5 billion is being provided under the Bipartisan discretionary grant program, and the fact that Alabama is getting $550 million, that is a big chunk of that funding.”
Ivey said she was not sure when there would be an actual groundbreaking, but it would depend on how much more money could be raised. In addition, there will be a $2.50 toll with discounts for commuters, which Ivey said will be eliminated once the project is paid for. ALDOT is in the process of applying for a federal low-interest loan, known as a TIFIA loan. The state can borrow up to 49% of the total project cost. The repayment period for a TIFIA loan is up to 35 years, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allows up to 75 years for some projects.
“We’ve got the ball rolling, and we’re not going to stop,” she said.
Bhatt said he believed the plan was to break ground in 2025, and in a few years come back for a ribbon cutting in 2030. He stressed there were other funding efforts underway.
“The latest on the TIFIA is that they (ALDOT) is working through the bond process,” he said. “Everything so far seems to be a green light. It’s going to be also up to the state of Alabama as to how long they want to stretch out time to pay on the project.”
Other dignitaries were also happy about the $550 million giving the project a much-needed jump start.
RELATED: Alabama leaders thrilled with $550 million grant for I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project
“I believe to the best of our ability, we got this project done the right way,” Burrell said.
“There were a lot of conversations, and the counties and the cities all coming together as one to determine what was best for all of us. Everyone was involved from the Governor on down, and we worked hand in hand to get this project moving forward. This project not only affects all of us in this room; it affects the entire I-10 corridor from Florida to California.”
“This critical infrastructure helps tens of thousands of Alabamians get to work,” said Britt. “It also provides a safe route for people to visit their families or escape severe weather. It also enables small businesses to sell their products. This investment in this infrastructure will support commerce and economy, and it will support the people who visit the great state of Alabama.”
“This is certainly been a heavy load for what you have done in this state from an infrastructure standpoint,” Carl said.
“We found a way to make things come together; we found a way to make it work and we’re here today. It’s not just about tourism, it’s about national security. When you’re trying to move tanks from Jacksonville, Florida to San Diego, California, you need to do it fast.”
Courtesy of Call News.
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