MOBILE, Ala. — After years of planning, Alabama is building its new I-10 bridge over the Mobile River. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) issued a notice to proceed on Sept. 25 to Kiewit Massman Traylor (KMT), the design-build team for the project. Construction officially began Oct. 1, and state and federal officials held a groundbreaking in Mobile on Oct. 2.
The state puts the construction cost at $3.2 billion. Gov. Kay Ivey's office calls it the largest transportation infrastructure project in Alabama history. ALDOT is building it on behalf of the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
The new bridge is expected to open around 2031.
What's being built
The centerpiece is a new six-lane, cable-stayed bridge across the Mobile River. The project also includes work on the west approach and improvements to I-10 interchanges in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
The second major piece is the Bayway, the more than seven-mile stretch of twin I-10 bridges that carries traffic across Mobile Bay to the Eastern Shore. According to ABC 33/40, the existing Bayway will be modified to carry three lanes in each direction, and about one mile will be rebuilt to tie into the new river bridge.
According to Traylor, the project will expand I-10 capacity and give vehicles carrying hazardous materials a safer route, while limiting the impact on Mobile's port and maritime traffic. It also aims to improve road geometry and access to the area's industrial sites.
For Traylor, one of the three joint venture partners, it will be the company's ninth cable-stayed bridge.
Why it's needed
The corridor is badly overloaded. Ivey said it was designed for about 35,000 vehicles a day but now sees about 95,000 at peak times.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt described the corridor as a lifeline for the region and the nation, pointing to the Port of Mobile, the area's shipbuilders and nearby military assets. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who attended the groundbreaking, said the project rose to the top because it serves so many people.
One team for both jobs
The contract took a winding path. ALDOT originally split the work, with KMT picked for the river bridge and a separate team, Mobile Bayway Constructors, selected to design and build a new, wider and higher Bayway span.
In March 2025, ALDOT and Mobile Bayway Constructors parted ways in what the department called a mutual decision. In October 2025, the toll authority approved putting both parts of the project under KMT and building them at the same time.
KMT has been working on the project since early 2023. Its preconstruction work covered concept development, design, estimating and test pile installation, all aimed at setting a guaranteed maximum price. State estimates for the project ranged from $3.2 billion to $3.5 billion before the final price was set.
At the groundbreaking, Kiewit's Doug Glaser said the team is confident in the schedule and expects to finish on or under budget.
How it's paid for
The financing came together in September. It includes:
- A $2.52 billion federal TIFIA loan, a low-interest federal transportation loan finalized in September 2026
- A $550 million federal Bridge Investment Program grant
- State bonds and other state and federal funding
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures credited both the Trump and Biden administrations, since the grant and the loan came from each.
The bridge will be tolled once it opens. Passenger vehicles with an ALGO Pass will pay $3 per trip, and frequent drivers can buy a $60 monthly unlimited pass. There will be no tolls during construction. Drivers who want to avoid the toll can still use the Wallace and Bankhead tunnels, the Africatown Bridge and the Causeway.
Timeline
Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
Early 2023 | KMT begins preconstruction work |
March 2025 | ALDOT parts ways with Mobile Bayway Constructors |
October 2025 | Toll authority puts both bridge and Bayway under KMT |
September 2026 | TIFIA loan and bond financing close |
Sept. 25, 2026 | ALDOT issues notice to proceed |
Oct. 1, 2026 | Construction officially begins |
Oct. 2, 2026 | Groundbreaking in Mobile |
Around 2031 | New bridge expected to open |
What it means for contractors
A $3.2 billion, five-year job brings a long run of subcontract and supply work to the Mobile area. A cable-stayed bridge and miles of bay bridge work call for marine construction, pile driving, heavy concrete and precast, steel, cable and post-tensioning specialists, and large crane and barge fleets.
The interchange work on both sides of the bay adds roadway, paving, drainage, traffic control and utility relocation. Building over a working shipping channel while keeping I-10 open will also mean steady demand for marine traffic control and maintenance-of-traffic crews.
KMT has not announced its subcontracting plans or workforce numbers. Firms interested in the work should watch for outreach from the joint venture and ALDOT as packages move from design into the field.
Ivey summed up the moment at the groundbreaking, calling it a historic day for Alabama.