Mobile-Baldwin

[Alex]

More support for a pedestrian walkway on the proposed I-10 Bridge, this time from the Mayoral candidates:

Sandy Stimpson: Let's go "multi-modal" with the I-10 bridge over Mobile River

Sam Jones: I am walking the walk on pedestrian/biking path over I-10 bridge

Too bad there is no news on construction of the actual bridge!!

[Alex]

The same bridge that has been talked about for years (over the Mobile River to bypass the tunnel for Interstate 10). Had they started on work as they hoped at the ALDOT meeting I attended in 2003, the bridge would have been done by last year or this year...

[roadwarrior]

Discussion of this bridge has long been considered a joke by locals.  None of us believe it will ever be built.  That would be too competent.  They've been talking about it for at least 40 years.   Not long ago people were still trying for a northern route on the Cochrane Africatown bridge (something that obviously wouldn't work) and shunning any potential real routes. 

Obviously we need it and I think a walking/biking lane etc. sounds great as well.  Most importantly I think we need to make it high enough for ships etc.  and make the architecture of it beautiful.  Let's not just make it any bridge, let's make it something that will add to the city instead of becoming an eyesore. 

I'll believe it when I see it.  Hopefully it will happen.

[Alex]

Discussion of this bridge has long been considered a joke by locals.  None of us believe it will ever be built.  That would be too competent.  They've been talking about it for at least 40 years.   Not long ago people were still trying for a northern route on the Cochrane Africatown bridge (something that obviously wouldn't work) and shunning any potential real routes. 

Obviously we need it and I think a walking/biking lane etc. sounds great as well.  Most importantly I think we need to make it high enough for ships etc.  and make the architecture of it beautiful.  Let's not just make it any bridge, let's make it something that will add to the city instead of becoming an eyesore. 

I'll believe it when I see it.  Hopefully it will happen.

There are some that want exactly that, a signature bridge that adds to the skyline. Then the opponents say "it will cast a huge shadow over downtown" or "it will hamper the shipbuilding industry by adding a height restriction to the river." Either way, as you wrote, it seems as if it will never happen...

Further frustrating is that 2003 plan called for widening the Bayway to eight lanes. Widening is needed, yet here we are in 2013 with just four lanes and traffic counts of 62,000 vpd. I can see the Baldwin stretch between Exits 35 and 38 going to six lanes before the Bayway gets any improvement...

[roadwarrior]

There are some that want exactly that, a signature bridge that adds to the skyline. Then the opponents say "it will cast a huge shadow over downtown" or "it will hamper the shipbuilding industry by adding a height restriction to the river." Either way, as you wrote, it seems as if it will never happen...

Further frustrating is that 2003 plan called for widening the Bayway to eight lanes. Widening is needed, yet here we are in 2013 with just four lanes and traffic counts of 62,000 vpd. I can see the Baldwin stretch between Exits 35 and 38 going to six lanes before the Bayway gets any improvement...

Yeah, I used to get so frustrated because of the way the argument was always framed.  Supporters would always go "we can make it high enough" in response and the opponents would never respond back to that but keep regurgitating the "height restriction" argument.  It was as if they weren't even willing to have a straighforward conversation about it.  They always wanted to spend far more on a "northern route"  that would have somehow detoured traffic way around the city (and added lanes and bridges) and on to the Cochran bridge but it's obviously too far out of the way to do that and too costly.

I see Baldwin getting 8 lanes first as well.  I think it would be great to see the Bayway get eight lanes.  All I've heard lately is bridge talk and nothing about the Bayway itself though.  At least a decade or more ago I remember a Mobile River bridge idea to convert Virginia Street east of I-10 into a bridge that not only crossed the river but met with the Bayway about halfway through the Bay.  At that point the two were supposed to merge and form the eight lane highway.  At the time there was also a likely unsellable idea to simply not have it merge halfway and instead go all the way to Fairhope.  Intriguing but probably considered too costly.

[codyg1985]

If the bayway is to be widened, I wonder if they would also consider raising it to make it more hurricane-proof, similar to what was done with I-10 across Lake Ponchartrain?

[Alex]

If the bayway is to be widened, I wonder if they would also consider raising it to make it more hurricane-proof, similar to what was done with I-10 across Lake Ponchartrain?

As I recall it, the 2001-2003 proposals involved adding on to the existing bridges. It took Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina to get the substandard and lower bridges in Florida and Louisiana to be raised. Not sure what the threshold is for storm surge and the current bridge clearance in Mobile Bay, but it likely is considered now.

I see Baldwin getting 8 lanes first as well.  I think it would be great to see the Bayway get eight lanes.  All I've heard lately is bridge talk and nothing about the Bayway itself though.  At least a decade or more ago I remember a Mobile River bridge idea to convert Virginia Street east of I-10 into a bridge that not only crossed the river but met with the Bayway about halfway through the Bay.  At that point the two were supposed to merge and form the eight lane highway.  At the time there was also a likely unsellable idea to simply not have it merge halfway and instead go all the way to Fairhope.  Intriguing but probably considered too costly.

The three corridors presented at the ALDOT meeting I attended in 2003 were:



These also involved removal of the Texas Street half-diamond interchange, which is where the new bridge would join existing Interstate 10.

[froggie]

Widening is needed, yet here we are in 2013 with just four lanes and traffic counts of 62,000 vpd.

Which really isn't all that high for a 4-lane urban freeway.  General, planning-level capacity for a 4-lane urban freeway is in the 75-80K range.

As I recall it, the 2001-2003 proposals involved adding on to the existing bridges. It took Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina to get the substandard and lower bridges in Florida and Louisiana to be raised. Not sure what the threshold is for storm surge and the current bridge clearance in Mobile Bay, but it likely is considered now.

Keep in mind that Pensacola and Pontchartrain were brand new bridges.  Can't just "raise the existing" Bayway bridges...all new bridges would have to be built, which would both significantly add to the cost and be an engineering nightmare at Exits 27 and 30.

[Alex]

As I recall it, the 2001-2003 proposals involved adding on to the existing bridges. It took Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina to get the substandard and lower bridges in Florida and Louisiana to be raised. Not sure what the threshold is for storm surge and the current bridge clearance in Mobile Bay, but it likely is considered now.

Keep in mind that Pensacola and Pontchartrain were brand new bridges.  Can't just "raise the existing" Bayway bridges...all new bridges would have to be built, which would both significantly add to the cost and be an engineering nightmare at Exits 27 and 30.

I was not suggesting that the old bridges would somehow gain a few feet with construction. I was addressing Cody's question about raising them, i.e. new bridges at a higher clearance. Unfortunately it will likely take a hurricane causing significant damage to the existing Bayway to lead to their whole scale replacement, due to the overwhelming cost as you wrote

Widening is needed, yet here we are in 2013 with just four lanes and traffic counts of 62,000 vpd.

Which really isn't all that high for a 4-lane urban freeway.  General, planning-level capacity for a 4-lane urban freeway is in the 75-80K range.

The 2011 vpd was lower than I expected, but unfortunately evening commutes along the Bayway eastbound often consist of sluggish traffic now. This wasn't the case ten years ago outside of a traffic incident, but it is now. Baldwin has ranked as either the fastest or one of the fasted growing counties in Alabama in recent years. Development is expected to continue as more residents leave Mobile County for the commute to new housing on the Eastern Shore.

[Alex]

The estimated costs for the new bridge are now up to $850 million!

I-10/Mobile River Bridge conversations continue, permits could be sought in early 2014

[DeaconG]

The estimated costs for the new bridge are now up to $850 million!

I-10/Mobile River Bridge conversations continue, permits could be sought in early 2014

And the longer they drag their feet, the higher its gonna get.

[jdb1234]

Down here in the area for the next few days.  Anything I should see while I am down here?

[Alex]

Down here in the area for the next few days.  Anything I should see while I am down here?

The Baldwin Beach Express extension and new interchange with I-10.

Widening of I-10 from Exit 17 west to beyond Exit 15, though it may be completed now.

Schillenger Road widening.

[jdb1234]

Down here in the area for the next few days.  Anything I should see while I am down here?

The Baldwin Beach Express extension and new interchange with I-10.

Widening of I-10 from Exit 17 west to beyond Exit 15, though it may be completed now.

Schillenger Road widening.

I am over in Baldwin County so I may check out the Baldwin Beach Express.

[Alex]

Tanner Williams Road to experience delays starting Monday

The work is related to the design phase of a future widening project to make the road more accessible and safe.

[Grzrd]

http://www.wkrg.com/story/22488245/new-highway-98-86-million-spent-decade-to-go
Article on stalled US 98 expansion from WKRG

Sounds like ALDOT with the U.S. 98 bypass of Semmes in Mobile County. They made headway then a lawsuit halted work and now they have no funds to complete it.

(above quote from Construction begins on South Greenville, MS freeway thread)

This Feb. 27 video report includes some footage of the dormant project (including the bridge at the Mississippi state line) and reports that it may be slowly stirring to life, with ALDOT's intermediate goal being to complete two lanes from the state line to the existing AL 158:

Hwy 98 is a main thoroughfare for tractor-trailers making their way from Mississippi to Interstate 65. The highway is what some may call accident prone - some people escape with their lives, others aren't so fortunate ....
The Alabama Department of Transportation has been working to finish building a new highway that will ease traffic. It will be called State Road 158 extension.
Part of the highway has already been completed. ALDOT says it will pick up construction, and extend it west to the Mississippi state line.
"Because of funding limitations we've kinda created smaller projects that we feel we can get let to construction or put the bids out. Let the contractors bid on it and we actually start construction on it. We are hoping to get the first project let sometime in 2014. We are starting to acquire right or way and depending on how that goes," said Don Powell, the Southwest Region Reconstruction Engineer for ALDOT.
Powell says a lack of state funding stalled construction.
"We need more and it's a Federal funding bill. It goes back to the gasoline tax which is where we get most of our funding. The fact that there hasn't been an increase in the gas tax since 92, and roughly Americans don't drive as many miles and vehicles are becoming more efficient daily," he said.
He hopes by breaking the project into smaller ones, funding will come sooner.
"Our first project is going to go from Schillinger Road to Lott Road. We are going to grade and drain for four lanes, but we are going to only base and pave two. What our goal is because of funding limitations is to get two lanes open from the Mississippi line to existing 158 to allow the truck traffic and the through traffic to use new 98 and then the local traffic on existing 98," said Powell.
The first project will cost approximately 20 million dollars.
The length of the entire new highway is 12 and a half miles and the entire project will cost approximately 150 million dollars. If the state funding comes through soon, ALDOT says it will be ready to construct by the end of the year.

[codyg1985]

^ Sounds like ALDOT is taking a page from the AHTD playbook.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.wkrg.com/story/22488245/new-highway-98-86-million-spent-decade-to-go
Article on stalled US 98 expansion from WKRG

Sounds like ALDOT with the U.S. 98 bypass of Semmes in Mobile County. They made headway then a lawsuit halted work and now they have no funds to complete it.

(above quote from Construction begins on South Greenville, MS freeway thread)

This Feb. 27 video report includes some footage of the dormant project (including the bridge at the Mississippi state line) and reports that it may be slowly stirring to life, with ALDOT's intermediate goal being to complete two lanes from the state line to the existing AL 158:

Hwy 98 is a main thoroughfare for tractor-trailers making their way from Mississippi to Interstate 65. The highway is what some may call accident prone - some people escape with their lives, others aren't so fortunate ....
The Alabama Department of Transportation has been working to finish building a new highway that will ease traffic. It will be called State Road 158 extension.
Part of the highway has already been completed. ALDOT says it will pick up construction, and extend it west to the Mississippi state line.
"Because of funding limitations we've kinda created smaller projects that we feel we can get let to construction or put the bids out. Let the contractors bid on it and we actually start construction on it. We are hoping to get the first project let sometime in 2014. We are starting to acquire right or way and depending on how that goes," said Don Powell, the Southwest Region Reconstruction Engineer for ALDOT.
Powell says a lack of state funding stalled construction.
"We need more and it's a Federal funding bill. It goes back to the gasoline tax which is where we get most of our funding. The fact that there hasn't been an increase in the gas tax since 92, and roughly Americans don't drive as many miles and vehicles are becoming more efficient daily," he said.
He hopes by breaking the project into smaller ones, funding will come sooner.
"Our first project is going to go from Schillinger Road to Lott Road. We are going to grade and drain for four lanes, but we are going to only base and pave two. What our goal is because of funding limitations is to get two lanes open from the Mississippi line to existing 158 to allow the truck traffic and the through traffic to use new 98 and then the local traffic on existing 98," said Powell.
The first project will cost approximately 20 million dollars.
The length of the entire new highway is 12 and a half miles and the entire project will cost approximately 150 million dollars. If the state funding comes through soon, ALDOT says it will be ready to construct by the end of the year.

Suppose I'll take it.  At least something will be complete and some of the gravel pathways that have already been built will be used.  Should get the entire road a little closer to being completed. 

[Alex]

Resurfacing project from west end of Wallace Tunnel to Halls Mill Creek to begin April 21

April 21 will mark the beginning of an Alabama Department of Transportation  I-10 resurfacing project from the west end of the Wallace Tunnel to east of Halls Mill Creek.

In addition to resurfacing, crews will remove the non-functioning pedestrian bridge between Texas Street and Canal Street, raise the bridge over I-10 at Michigan Avenue to provide adequate clearance and make guardrail and bridge safety improvements.

A large portion of the work on the 8.7 mile project will be done at night to limit traffic disruptions. Nighttime lane closures will be restricted to Sunday-Thursday and will be announced in advance on message boards.

The project is estimated to finish in July 2015.

Glad to read that the closed pedestrian bridge at Texas Street is finally being removed:

[Alex]

Check out what the I-10 bridge over Mobile could look like

The project is not finalized and a route has not been agreed on.

The most popular option is called Route B prime.

Route B prime would run just south of the Alabama Cruise Terminal, include the possible addition of footings on Austal USA's property and terminate just north of the Alabama Industrial Development Training program's Maritime Training Center, feeding directly into the existing bayway, according to Press Register archives.

[Alex]

Congressman Byrne calls proposed I-10/Mobile River Bridge a 'national priority'; says inaction endangers public safety, economic development

MOBILE, Alabama — U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne called construction of an Interstsate-10 bridge over the Mobile River a "national priority"  and said he has "thrown a stick in the sand"  asking the Federal Highway Administration to release the project's draft environmental impact study by July 1 or provide a concrete reason for its continued delay.

[codyg1985]

Congressman Byrne calls proposed I-10/Mobile River Bridge a 'national priority'; says inaction endangers public safety, economic development

MOBILE, Alabama — U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne called construction of an Interstsate-10 bridge over the Mobile River a "national priority"  and said he has "thrown a stick in the sand"  asking the Federal Highway Administration to release the project's draft environmental impact study by July 1 or provide a concrete reason for its continued delay.

I'd love to see where the money is going to come from to build this bridge. ALDOT, or many other state DOTs, are not exactly rolling in dough these days.

[Alex]

Drove out to Baldwin two days ago to see progress on the Baldwin Beach Express / County Road 83.

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The mainline south of U.S. 90 is still not open to traffic, but appears to be ready whenever they get around to striping it.

Further north, CR 83 shields are consistently posted now, including on several side roads. The future southbound lanes are now open between CR 64 and CR 68 at the future I-10 interchange. They carry two-way traffic while the northbound carriageway is still needing final pavement.

The ramps for I-10 are graded but not yet paved. There is a new overpass to the west of the existing CR 68 bridge carrying dual traffic (two lanes with full shoulders). Seems likely the existing bridge will be demolished and replaced as traffic demands warrant later.

[Alex]

Please let funding never accrue for this project.

Federal highway fund shortfall could delay Mobile's I-10 interchange project

A reconfiguration of Interstate 10 interchanges leading to and from the Wallace Tunnel in downtown Mobile depends on how Washington, D.C. resolves a potential crisis with the Highway Trust Fund.

The fund that pays for highway and infrastructure work, and is supported by gasoline taxes, is supposed to run out of money by the end of summer.

The approximately $30 million reconfiguration to the ramps leading to I-10 will be 80 percent funded by the federal government; 20 percent funded by the state.

If funding is available, the project is scheduled to be out for bids by early 2015. Construction would then begin later in the year, and Calametti said it could take two years to complete.

He said there will always be at least two lanes of I-10 opened during construction.

"With the Highway Trust Fund ... if that is resolved, (the project) should go the first of the year," Calametti said.

[Alex]

ALDOT: 1 lane of NB I-65 bridge in Mobile, Baldwin counties to reopen by Sunday

The Alabama Department of Transportation expects to reopen one lane of northbound traffic on the General W.K. Wilson Bridge on Sunday, three days after the bridge was partially damaged by a fatal crash and subsequent fire.

ALDOT Director John Cooper said one girder was damaged by extreme heat from the burning plastics which melted out of one of the two 18-wheeler trucks involved in the crash. The other vehicle carried petroleum.

"Bridges are constructed of steel and concrete and both of those have some susceptibility to extreme heat," Cooper said. "If you expose either one of those to extreme heat there is some risk of damage."

Officials expect one northbound lane of Interstate 65 between exits 19 and 31 to reopen by or before 3 p.m. Sunday. Final repairs are not expected to be completed until later.