Contract awarded to replace Gilbert's Ferry SR-77 Bridge in Etowah County
The $22.1 million project will add a two-lane northbound crossing, with construction expected to begin in early 2027 and finish by late 2029.
Governor Kay Ivey announced Monday that the Alabama Department of Transportation has awarded a $22.1 million contract to replace the northbound Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge on Alabama 77 over the Coosa River in Etowah County.
Scott Bridge Company of Opelika submitted the lowest of four bids for the project. Ivey approved the $22,065,595 contract November 3.
The project will replace the 87-year-old bridge between Southside and Rainbow City with a wider, two-lane bridge. The department expects construction to begin in early 2027 and finish by the end of 2029.
“For almost 90 years, the Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge has carried increasing traffic volume across the Coosa River between Southside and Rainbow City,” Ivey said. “Even after the addition of the larger southbound bridge, congestion remains a problem for northbound traffic on the older bridge. The construction of a new two-lane bridge for northbound traffic is good news for the 25,000 travelers who cross the Coosa River on SR-77 each day.”
The new bridge will have two 12-foot travel lanes and 6-foot shoulders on each side. It will measure 36 feet wide and 910 feet long and stand about 30 feet above the river. The existing bridge is 20 feet wide, 868 feet long and about 10 feet above the river.
Senator Andrew Jones said a new northbound bridge has long been a regional need.
“This critical infrastructure project will alleviate traffic congestion for hardworking men and women and also makes the drive to school easier for parents and students in Southside and Rainbow City,” Jones said.
Jones credited Ivey and the Rebuild Alabama program with making the project possible.
Representative Craig Lipscomb said replacing the bridge had been a priority since he pledged to address it eight years ago. He described the aging bridge as a safety concern and an obstacle to traffic and economic growth.
“I never wavered in that commitment, and I’m proud to have worked alongside Governor Kay Ivey to make this long-overdue project a reality,” Lipscomb said. “I’m deeply grateful for her leadership and partnership in delivering on this promise and investing in a safer, stronger future for our community.”
Motorists should expect changing traffic patterns throughout construction, according to the department.
