U.S. Rep. Carl: As of now, ‘zero chance’ I-10 Mobile River bridge included in Biden infrastructure push

While there has been some discussion in recent weeks to revive the push for improvements to the Interstate 10 bridge connecting Mobile and Baldwin Counties, do not expect the $2.5 trillion infrastructure proposal promoted by Democrats and President Joe Biden to include it says U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile).

During an interview with Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5, Carl says there was a possibility it could be added when the U.S. Senate produces its version of the legislation but he deemed that a “stretch.”

“As you well-know, what the Senate does and the changes they make, we have no real feel for,” he said. “I can tell you from where it’s at now, we’ve got zero chance to get money from this infrastructure [proposal] for that bridge project.”

“Now hopefully, that’s a stretch — hopefully, the Senate will try to help us,” Carl continued. “I have no reason to think that they will. We can still hang it out there. But you look at this infrastructure bill — only 6% of this $2.5 trillion actually goes toward roads and bridges, which to me is the true definition of infrastructure. We do need some help, obviously, in some of the broadband areas here in south Alabama. You know, broadband is a huge issue. It should be. It needs to be. But if we haven’t learned anything from this pandemic, the broadband and educating our children is one and the same. So, we need to focus on that.”

Carl also said he expected some vulnerable Democrats to have second thoughts about the package given their 2022 midterm election prospects.

“But there are so many other things in this bill that just make this a very bad taste for a lot of people,” he added. “A lot of Democrats have got to look hard at this because they’re going to be running on this in 2022. This is what is going to be held over their head.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.