A new proposal for the Mobile River Bridge project in Alabama is now gaining acceptance with residents in the area. The new plan is for a new bridge that will carry trucks only. Cars would still be able to use the existing Wallace Tunnel link.
The truck only bridge would cost an estimated US$725 million to construct, considerably less than the bridge previously suggested, had been intended to carry all types of vehicles. The new bridge would be tolled, with fees of $10-15 for each truck and is being designed with two lanes in either direction. Trucks measuring 14m would be banned from using the existing tunnel link.
The construction of this new bridge represents the first stage of a series of infrastructure upgrades for the area around the city of Mobile. Construction of the bridge is expected to cut journey times for drivers using the tunnel, which suffers congestion at peak periods. Delays could be cut by as much as 60-90 minutes.
Full approval for the project has yet to be provided by the local authorities in the area. Should the necessary approvals be provided, construction would commence by 2023 and should be complete by 2026. The funding model for the project has yet to be revealed.
