U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) recently expressed hope for federal aid from Donald Trump's incoming administration to complete the long-awaited Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway. However, he appeared to shy away from discussing efforts to widen Interstate 65.
The Mobile Bridge has been a primary focus for Alabama lawmakers, both state and federal. Local officials have been trying to find a way to fund the estimated $3.5 billion project, and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) paused it earlier this year until it could find funds to cover rising costs due to inflation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded the project a $550 million discretionary grant in July. However, Tuberville believes it will require more federal funds to complete.
Related: Tuberville, Moore laud $550 million grant for I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project
In a media call last week, Tuberville said he had extensive conversations with Trump about funding for the project and with former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy, who Trump tapped as USDOT secretary.
"[Trump's] aware of the situation, I promise you, from me," Tuberville said. "It's got to get done. We have to have a bridge. We have to have a better flow of traffic from Mississippi into Alabama. And it's got to be done the right way. It can't be at a huge cost to the taxpayers that drive across that bridge every day. I think President Trump will be able to help us with that in the near future."
"I'm looking forward to working with Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation when he gets confirmed. I've also talked to him about that, so we've got a good start on this. We've got money from other places, but we're going to need more money, and we're going to need a sense of urgency to get this done because this is going to open up East to West traffic from Mississippi to Alabama. It is going to be a huge economic boon for the South and for each coast because of this."
The widening of I-65, the state's most heavily traveled highway, is another Alabama-based infrastructure project that has garnered Trump's attention.
The widening of I-65 has been a contentious issue in the state. Lawmakers, namely Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, have butted heads with Gov. Kay Ivey and the executive branch over the administration's lack of attention to what is perceived as a growing problem on the state's roadways.
RELATED: Ivey, Ainsworth trade barbs on I-65 widening as embattled ALDOT director John Cooper is under fire
Last year, in a speech at an Alabama GOP dinner event, Trump vowed to widen I-65 from Huntsville to Mobile, saying it would be "[o]ne of the first things that I will do to help the great people of Alabama."
See also: Ainsworth vows to revisit Trump on I-65 widening pledge
When Tuberville was asked directly about widening I-65, however, he shifted the funding conversation more toward bridge repair and other projects across the state.
"I think we got to look at all of our roads," Tuberville continued. "Right now, we have 2,000 bridges in the state of Alabama that have been condemned; 2,000 that we're still driving over. Now, they're safe to drive, but they need repairs."
Tuberville went on to say support for a robust federal infrastructure bill in D.C. while expressing skepticism about full support from Republicans in Congress.
"I am for an infrastructure bill that is going to be for roads, bridges, waterways or rivers, or streams and we can get that done," he said. "But we got to get Republicans to stand up now with President Trump when he puts that bill on the floor and not back away from it. The last time President Trump had the chance to do this, Republicans voted it down. Now it's time to give President Trump an opportunity to do an infrastructure bill that's right for this country and not right for other countries."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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