State and local transportation officials announced that the long-awaited Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project will move forward under a revised construction plan designed to reduce costs while expanding Interstate 10 capacity between Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization said the project remains on track for construction to begin before the end of 2026, pending approval of a federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan.

The revised proposal divides the project into two phases. Phase 1 includes construction of a new six-lane cable-stayed Mobile River Bridge, improvements to major interchanges and traffic flow throughout the corridor and restriping the existing Bayway to provide six lanes across Mobile Bay. Construction of a new Bayway structure would follow in a later phase as additional funding becomes available.

"This project is essential to Alabama's future and represents one of the most important infrastructure investments in our state's history," Gov. Kay Ivey said. "This transformative project will strengthen our economy, improve safety and ensure we are better prepared in times of emergency."

ALDOT officials said the phased approach was developed after inflation, rising labor and material costs, engineering challenges and federal regulatory requirements drove the original project beyond a financially viable cost. The agency estimates Phase 1 alone will cost approximately $3.2 billion.

The announcement follows months of discussions involving ALDOT, the White House, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and Alabama's congressional delegation.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) said the announcement marks a milestone after more than 30 years of planning.

"This is exactly the kind of strategic infrastructure investment that strengthens our economy, supports our port, improves safety and benefits every American who travels the I-10 corridor," she said.

The project previously secured a $550 million federal grant, and state officials said recent federal actions have provided additional flexibility needed to move the project toward construction.

Local planning officials said the revised approach reflects years of work to identify a realistic path forward.

"While this project has evolved over time, its importance has never changed," said Eastern Shore MPO Chairman Jack Burrell, who also serves on Fairhope City Council. "This revised approach provides meaningful congestion relief, improves regional mobility and creates a path toward delivering a project that many people have waited decades to see."

If the project proceeds as planned, tolls would not begin until the new Mobile River Bridge opens, which officials currently project will occur around 2031. Existing free routes, including the Wallace Tunnel, Bankhead Tunnel, Causeway and Africatown Bridge, will remain toll-free.

The proposed toll structure includes a $60 unlimited monthly commuter pass, a $3 per-trip ALGO Pass rate and a $7.70 rate for drivers using compatible transponders. Drivers without transponders would be billed through a toll-by-plate system and could later establish an ALGO Pass account to receive the lower ALGO rate.

According to ALDOT, all toll revenue will be used to finance construction.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.