MOBILE — Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt was in Mobile on Monday with other federal, state and local dignitaries to celebrate the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) $550 million contribution to the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.
Governor Kay Ivey was also on hand for the event.
Bhatt said he has been stuck in traffic on Interstate 10 himself and hopes the grant helps relieve congestion.
"Now, I want everybody in Alabama to understand that this announcement that we made two weeks ago was for $5 billion for bridges across the nation," Bhatt said. "There's $12.5 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law in that bridge discretion grant program. So, the fact that Alabama is getting $550 million, that is a big chunk of that funding."
The Bayway project will consist of six-lane bridges across Mobile Bay to the Mobile River Bridge project and a cable-stayed bridge across the Mobile River.
The state previously secured $125 million in federal funds and has committed $250 million to the estimated $4 billion project.
The federal grant is the second-largest ever awarded from the Bridge Investment Program and one of the largest grants Alabama has ever received.
"It's not good just for Alabama," Ivey said. "It's good for our country. This is a critical national corridor and let me say that it simply would not be possible without this significant federal backing. Senator [Katie] Britt and Congressman [Jerry] Carl are both instrumental in championing this project. Thank you both. Ladies and gentlemen, this is how federal dollars should be invested, and I commend our federal government for sending these dollars to Sweet Home Alabama."
Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the bipartisan project would not have happened without everyone working together.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't thank President Biden for what he did with the infrastructure bill if it had not been for him and the collaboration to get the infrastructure bill, the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed," Stimpson said.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said the grant award is a result of Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) director John Cooper's work, along with work from the two Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in Mobile and Baldwin County.
"I have said this over and over again, but I sincerely have watched this project through the years," said Britt. "And no matter how many times this group got knocked down, no matter how many times this group was told no, no matter how many times someone told you you were trying for the impossible, you stood back up and you did it because you knew your community, the citizens you serve, were depending on you to do it."
"It certainly has been a heavy load," said U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile). "What you've done in this state from an infrastructure standpoint, period, you'll always be remembered. You've got a legacy there. Coming from an infrastructure guy, that means a lot."
Council members from Mobile and Fairhope were in attendance for the celebration.
Groundbreaking on the project is expected to take place in 2025.
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