On Wednesday, Fairhope City Councilman Jack Burrell and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, the respective chairmen for the Eastern Shore and Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), presented a new framework for a long-sought new I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway.
The proposal comes as policymakers grapple with the possibility of a $125 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant lapsing.
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) responded favorably to the proposal. While he said he was still concerned about the toll, which would be capped at $2.50 under the proposal, he called it a “positive step forward.”
“South Alabama has been blessed with unprecedented economic and population growth over the past decade, and we all realize the need to fix the I-10 congestion problem,” Carl said in a statement. “It has been a priority of mine to ensure the $125 million federal grant secured by Senator Shelby is used for the I-10 Bridge project so we can address our traffic issues.”
“My greatest concern is having the option for locals to cross the bay without paying a toll, so I’m encouraged by the latest bridge proposal,” he continued. “We’ve got great people in office on both sides of the bay, and I think the plan they’ve put together is a positive step forward.”
Additionally, during an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show,” applauded government officials at the state level and said he was “excited” for the possibilities.
“You know, it’s very close to what we negotiated five years ago,” he said. “It’s not that far off. For those of us that were on the MPO at the time, the biggest pushback for us was an option for the locals to use it without having to pay a toll, which I understand this version of it that the MPO has presented back to the state works out that way.”
“I’ve said it — we’ve got great people in office on both sides of the bay that are reasonable thinkers,” Carl continued. “And I think what they’ve put together here — it is basically what we asked for. Hoorah for the state. I mean, the state has really changed and backed up on some of their things. I think the Governor’s office and ALDOT and everybody has made some changes and some concessions. I’m just excited for everybody involved in it.”
“Is it the perfect deal?” he added. “No, there’s no such thing as a perfect anything. I’m encouraged from what I saw yesterday.”
@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.
