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The Alabama Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that the next phase of the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project will proceed under the leadership of the Kiewit Massman Traylor joint venture. The team, originally selected to design and build the cable-stayed bridge, has already begun critical pre-construction testing in Mobile.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, also on Tuesday, designated the Mobile River Bridge among 180 infrastructure projects nationwide to be expedited through the federal funding process. The announcement specifically advances the $550 million Bridge Investment Program grant awarded to the project in 2024.
“We appreciate the commitment from 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.”
Ed Austin, ALDOT chief engineer, called the development a major milestone.
“This is an important and positive development for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project,” Austin said. “Kiewit Massman Traylor and their team are hitting the ground running as they take over this portion of the project.”
As part of the design and pre-construction phase, KMT has launched a Pile Load Test Program aimed at evaluating the structural integrity of the concrete foundation piles that will support the new bridge. Testing will occur at six locations along the proposed bridge route and will involve 24-inch square precast concrete piles.
The testing is scheduled to take place between May and August, with work occurring from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Prior to testing, crews will mobilize equipment and materials, including cranes, support vehicles and concrete piles. ALDOT stated that the testing phase is not expected to affect traffic on Interstate 10.
Before construction can officially begin, two key issues must still be resolved: the agreement on a guaranteed maximum price for the project and finalization of a federal TIFIA loan. ALDOT is actively working with the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete the loan process and remains hopeful that a groundbreaking will occur before the end of 2025.
