The Alabama Department of Transportation will soon begin a corridor study for a proposed Tennessee River bridge serving Decatur.
ALDOT expects to issue a public notice in August seeking proposals from engineering firms to conduct the study. The department expects to select a consultant and begin the study before the end of the year. The study is expected to take two to three years.
The study will examine alignment options for a new Tennessee River crossing designed to relieve congestion on the Capt. William J. Hudson “Steamboat Bill” Memorial Bridges and improve travel along the State Route 20 and U.S. 31 corridors in Decatur.
A $3 million federal Community Project Funding grant secured by U.S. Representative Dale Strong will partially fund the study. ALDOT expects to supplement the grant with additional federal and state transportation funds. The consultant selection process will establish the final scope of work and provide a detailed cost estimate.
“A previous feasibility study indicated there are viable options for another Tennessee River crossing,” ALDOT North Region spokesman Seth Burkett said. “We’re now moving to evaluate those options in greater detail, identify the preferred route, and complete the engineering and environmental work required before the project can move closer to construction.”
Federal requirements call for detailed engineering, traffic and environmental analyses before a project of this size can move forward. ALDOT said in a news release that the consultant will evaluate routes identified during the feasibility study, compare their benefits and effects, gather public input and recommend the route that best improves traffic, minimizes environmental effects and uses taxpayer dollars effectively.
The corridor study will also involve coordination with federal and state agencies and preparation of documents needed to meet National Environmental Policy Act requirements. Once the study is complete, ALDOT and local officials will have a preferred bridge alignment and a preliminary construction estimate.
“As North Alabama continues to grow, the need for safer, more efficient infrastructure has never been greater,” Strong said. “Advancing this study is an important step toward building an additional bridge across the Tennessee River and delivering long-term relief for families, commuters, and businesses.”
