Jack Burrell, the chairman of the Eastern Shore MPO, told 1819 News the $4 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project is on track to break ground in 2025.
Environmental studies and geotechnical services are still being performed, and re-negotiations with contractors for both phase one and phase two of the project are underway.
Burrell said the Alabama delegation has worked with federal and state officials to get the project off the ground.
"We're shovel-ready," Burrell said. "We're practically ready to break ground, which we're well ahead of other projects around the country. And there are many, many others."
The good news, Burrell said, is a recent drop in interest rates could mean hundreds of millions in savings. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded a $550 million discretionary grant for the project, along with $125 million in federal funds that had already been committed.
ALDOT has committed $250 million towards the project and has been advised to apply for a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan. ALDOT said it would ask for the maximum amount, now 49% of the project cost, but officials are still waiting to determine if that loan will be secured.
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) said a state-level meeting will occur on October 4.
"There's not enough money in Alabama, and the feds ain't going to give us enough to build it," he said. "We'll have to borrow large sums of money in addition to going with a toll to get that built."
The existing Bayway will be torn down, so drivers will have fewer opportunities to avoid the toll on the new bridge. While Burrell said the decision is not popular, ensuring the bridge gets paid for is necessary.
"If you leave the Bayway open, then you're going to have so much of what they term 'leakage' from the Bayway," Burrell said. "They'll never be able to make the payments on the new infrastructure. It'll just simply be too much leakage."
"It pains me to say that, but that's the truth, and I'll take that bullet, but that's the truth," he said. "And so, you know, if you did leave that open, there's going to come a time when it's end of life and you have to close it, but we would not be able to pay the note on the new capacity if that was the case."
Albritton said he has heard "environmental" reasons for destroying the current Bayway, but he is skeptical of that.
"The story is that's environmental," he said. "Because of the water level that comes under and it's too low down, whatever. I've never seen the water level get up to it in my lifetime."
"But the actual reason, in my humble opinion, is that's how they increase and manage the toll because they got to have some way that you have to go across and pay rather than scoot by," Albritton added.
Burrell said the main issue, congestion across the bay, is the real problem, and that will be solved with the new bridge. He said people will still be able to use the Causeway.
Tolling studies are still underway. The framework is based on not allowing the toll to go over $2.50, but no charge has been decided, as traffic studies must be completed. Currently, there is an idea for a monthly pass for $40 a month, or $480 a year.
Once the debt is paid for the building of the bridge, the tolling will be removed.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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