Mobile River Bridge breaks ground after 30 years of planning

Officials broke ground Friday, Oct. 2, on the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, the largest transportation infrastructure project in Alabama history.

Who attended the Mobile River Bridge groundbreaking

Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis hosted the ceremony, which included:

• U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
• Gov. Kay Ivey
• U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville
• U.S. Reps. Shomari Figures and Barry Moore

In a Facebook post, Cheriogotis said the project has been decades in the making and spanned multiple presidential administrations. He thanked local Metropolitan Planning Organizations, state and federal partners and the White House.

“I’m excited to see the bridge rise along the city’s beautiful skyline. This is truly a gamechanger for our city.”

Spiro Cheriogotis, Mobile mayor

$3.2B bridge and bayway project is officially underway

The groundbreaking follows Ivey’s Sept. 29 announcement that she had authorized construction. On Sept. 25, the Alabama Department of Transportation issued a notice to proceed to the Kiewit Massman Traylor design-build team. That came after bond sales and federal financing closed earlier this month.

Ivey said the project will transform travel through Baldwin and Mobile counties.

“It’s time to build the bridge, y’all!”

Kay Ivey, Alabama governor

What the I-10 Mobile River Bridge will change

Once complete, the project is expected to:

• Improve traffic flow along I-10
• Enhance freight movement through the Port of Mobile
• Strengthen regional connectivity
• Improve hurricane evacuation along a major interstate corridor

If everything goes as planned, the first phase should be done in the early 2030s.

Want the full backstory? Read our guide, Everything you need to know about the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.