State and local officials have provided an update on the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project following its 60-day review period.

The Alabama Department of Transportation has analyzed plans with both the Federal Highway Administration administrator and the U.S. Department of Transportation Build America Bureau executive director within the past two months, while members of the Eastern Shore MPO also recently traveled to Washington D.C. for meetings with U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Katie Britt (R-AL), U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl (R), whose 1st District covers Baldwin County, and Barry Moore (R) of District 2, and members of USDOT. Through its Build America Bureau, USDOT has now requested that ALDOT begin the application process for a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan, to support improvement efforts.

“USDOT requested this step and is accommodating ALDOT’s efforts to proceed in a timely manner,” ALDOT stated via a Monday, June 10, joint press release with chairmen of the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization. “ALDOT will submit this application at the maximum amount allowed, which is 49 percent of the project cost. This low-interest federal loan, while not guaranteed, would mean that nearly half of the project would receive the best and most competitive financing available. ALDOT has also submitted applications to USDOT for federal discretionary grants under three separate programs for projects of this nature.”

Only 66 miles of Interstate 10, the fourth-longest interstate in the country, are in Alabama. Despite costs being projected in the range of $3 to 3.5 billion, almost double ALDOT’s annual budget, officials have maintained their commitment to seeing this project move forward.

“This project is essentially shovel-ready except for an inflation-driven gap in funding,” ALDOT added in the release. “At the end of the day, we need the federal government to continue working with us in recognizing the national importance of this project and join us in making it a reality. Based on our progress - with all right of way acquired, necessary federal approvals secured, and federal loan processes initiated – we believe that the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project is the most advanced of any similar project in the country. ALDOT and the MPOs remain committed to this project, and we will continue to seek the additional federal funding we need to begin construction.”