The U.S. Department of Transportation announced 180 infrastructure grants worth $3.2 billion to "get America building again." The grants were previously announced but were delayed and were undergoing "woke" scrutiny.
Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the funds will help fill a backlog of more than 3,200 projects nationwide. Alabama will receive the largest grant of the package.
The State will receive the $550 million grant promised for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.
"The last administration liked to grab the headlines but didn't want to do the hard work of building," Duffy stated Tuesday. "They also tied road construction up with red tape and leftist social requirements – adding millions in costs and months of delay – all while our outdated infrastructure sat in disrepair. This administration has a different vision: drain the swamp and make government work for the American people."
The DOT has been rolling back President Joe Biden-era DEI, Green New Deal and social justice requirements for grants and is now distributing overdue funds.
Within an hour of the announcement, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) announced that the project would move forward under the Kiewit Massman Traylor (KMT) team and that preconstruction testing had already begun.
"America is building again," said Duffy. "At the Department of Transportation, that means getting back to basics: Building More, Building Efficiently and Building Quickly."
KMT was already working on the design and build of the bridge portion of the project.
"This is an important and positive development for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. Kiewit Massman Traylor and their team are hitting the ground running as they take over this portion of the project," said Ed Austin, ALDOT chief engineer.
A Pile Load Test will begin between May and August this year.
The state is still counting on a federal TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loan and needs a guaranteed maximum price for the estimated $3.5 billion project.
"We appreciate the commitment for Secretary Duffy and the Trump Administration to expedite the completion of the funding process for the $550 million grant for the Mobile River Bridge," said ALDOT spokesman Tony Harris. "With this commitment, this is another positive step toward the completion of the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project."
Other projects in Alabama are receiving overdue federal funding.
The Alabama State Port Authority will receive $38 million for the Transportation Demonstration Program, the Mobile Airport Authority (BFM) will receive $4 million for the Airport Terminal Program, the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority will receive $1 million in payments for the Small Community Air Service Development Program and Lauderdale County will receive $256,000 for the Alabama County Bridges Planning Study.
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