As part of the Alabama Department of Transportation's (ALDOT) efforts to plan for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, ALDOT will start gathering traffic data on the I-10 Bayway.

This data will help guide planning and improve both safety and traffic flow in the area, according to a press release from ALDOT.

The bridge project received a massive boost earlier this year when the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $550 million discretionary grant from the Bridge Investment Program. It is believed to be one of the largest federal grants ever received for an Alabama project and is the second-largest in the program's history, marking a a significant milestone in the decades-long project to build a new Interstate 10 bridge and Bayway connecting Mobile and the Eastern Shore.

As part of this next step, motorists traveling on the Bayway may notice new antennas, cameras and other data gathering devices mounted on overhead sign structures. These devices will be in both eastbound and westbound lanes. These devices are essential to ALDOT's mission to understand traffic patterns and enhance long-term planning.

FOCUS AREAS OF TRAFFIC DATA GATHERING

Traffic volume assessment

ALDOT will collect data on current traffic volumes to project daily, weekly and seasonal patterns. This will help guide the future Mobile River Bridge design.

Vehicle origin and destination

By analyzing data on local and out-of-state drivers, ALDOT will better understand travel needs and adjust plans for both local and regional users.

HOW IT WORKS

Sensors

Overhead antennas and cameras installed on the I-10 Bayway will monitor vehicle counts, types and origin states without affecting traffic flow.

Uninterrupted traffic flow

The data gathering devices are designed to be non-intrusive, so lane configurations and traffic flow on the Bayway will not be affected.

Data privacy and security

ALDOT said in the press release that all data collected will be anonymous, with no personal driver information recorded or stored. Data collection is solely to study traffic volumes and patterns to guide project planning.