U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced that the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority will receive a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan of up to $2.52 billion for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project, the largest infrastructure project in state history.
“After decades of delay, this historic investment into Alabama is yet another example of how President Trump is delivering big, beautiful infrastructure projects that will transform communities for the better,” Duffy said. “The Mobile River Bridge and Byway project will ease traffic congestion, boost the flow of freight, and enhance safety for drivers.”
The loan, from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau, will be used to transform I-10 through the construction of a new six-lane, cable-stayed bridge over the Mobile River. Additionally, key interchange, intersection and traffic flow improvements will be made in Mobile and Baldwin counties to enhance hurricane evacuation capacity, while an expansion and reconstruction of the Bayway will expand freight access to the Port of Mobile.
The loan is set to be repaid through a tolling plan, with one-way trips expected to cost as much as $7.70 to fund the first five-year phase of construction.
“The Bureau is proud to help usher in the Golden Age of Transportation and partner with ALDOT and the Authority for their first TIFIA loan. By utilizing the TIFIA credit program, Alabama is embracing an innovative approach that saves taxpayer dollars and gets good projects built faster,” Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian said. “This financing will finally help deliver a long-awaited, generational infrastructure project that will vastly improve traffic congestion, strengthen our supply chain network, and make travel safer for everyone.”
The project will also provide trucks transporting hazardous materials with a direct interstate route to the port, reducing congestion at the George Wallace Tunnel, where the transportation of hazardous materials is prohibited. Such vehicles will no longer have to detour through downtown Mobile and local neighborhoods, according to Transportation Department officials.
Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper issued statements celebrating the investment following Duffy’s announcement.
“President Trump and Secretary Duffy are once again proving this Administration is dedicated to making generational change across the country, and this major infrastructure investment in Alabama’s Gulf Coast will make monumental improvements for travel and commerce across the region,” Ivey said. “This advancement marks the final piece needed for the decades-awaited Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. Once it is completed, this project will finally alleviate our traffic gridlock across Mobile Bay. Thank you, again, to the Trump Administration for investing in our state. Alabama is proud to be part of the Golden Age of Transportation.”
“The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project is the largest, most complex road project in Alabama history and one of the largest projects of its type in the nation,” Cooper said. “I want to thank the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation for their collaboration and assistance with this project, which has been instrumental to its success. Our strong partnerships at the federal, state, and local level have brought us to this point, and I’m thrilled to see this project become reality and benefit Alabamians for generations to come.”
Several members of Alabama’s congressional delegation also praised the announcement, describing it as a policy victory for the state.
“For decades, families, commuters, and local businesses have waited for this bridge, and today we have cleared the final hurdle to make it a reality. I have fought for this project since my first days in the Senate, because this corridor is a lifeline for our state, connecting the Port of Mobile, our shipbuilders, our military assets, hardworking Alabamians, and Americans who travel to our great state,” U.S. Senator Katie Britt said. “I am grateful to President Trump, Secretary Duffy, and Susie Wiles for their tireless support, cutting through the red tape, and delivering for Alabama. This is an incredible achievement for our great state and for Governor Kay Ivey. This investment will mitigate ongoing safety concerns, strengthen our hurricane evacuation routes, and keep our economy moving for generations to come.”
“Ever since I got to Washington, I’ve been hearing from Alabamians about the urgent need to expand the Mobile bridge. For four years, Joe Biden sat on his hands, but thankfully, President Trump and Secretary Duffy are taking action. This long-overdue bridge expansion will relieve traffic, enhance safety, and expand freight access to the Port,” U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville said. “This project is a game-changer for the Gulf.”
“From day one of representing Alabama’s First District, this project has been a top priority for me,” U.S. Representative Barry Moore said. “Today marks a milestone that many Alabamians have waited decades to see. I appreciate President Trump, Secretary Duffy, Susie Wiles, the Alabama delegation, and our state and local partners for working with us to make this project a reality. This investment will improve travel across our region and strengthen the Gulf Coast for generations to come.”
The TIFIA loan approval adds to previous federal support issued under the Biden administration, including a $550 million grant awarded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project previously received $250 million from the state and $125 million through a federal grant secured by former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby in 2019.
With the latest investment, the long-awaited project could move forward after years of delay, with construction positioned to begin before the end of 2026.
