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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Declares $2.1 Billion I-10 Toll Bridge Project Is Dead
August 29, 2019
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the proposed high-toll I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project is “dead”. Her statement came after the I-10 project was removed from the short term plans of the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Upon hearing that the local delegation failed to move the project forward, Gov. Ivey released a statement.
“With the action taken today, there is no pathway forward, and this project is dead. Moreover, without a project, there is no need for a meeting on October 7. I am thereby cancelling the Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority meeting.
Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is asking the Alabama Department of Transportation to go back to the drawing board and come back with a scaled back proposal that will relieve traffic congestion but not require a toll.
The Alabama Department of Transportation had proposed a $6 one-way toll or a $90 monthly pass for unlimited trips across the $2.1 billion bridge.
Comments
15 Responses to “Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Declares $2.1 Billion I-10 Toll Bridge Project Is Dead”
Sounds like they wanted a Rolls Royce bridge, on a Chevy or Ford budget. They may want to check with the builders & planners of the new Pensacola/ Gulf Breeze bridge to see how it can be done at a more reasonable cost.
@ Just Thinking
NOAA has documented an annual relative rise in sea level of 3.74 mm/year…and 100 year rise is 1.23 feet in the area of Mobile Bay. (Source: NOAA)
Climate is weather of a given area measured over time…decades…it always changes. We have been in a warming trend since the last Ice Age, the next Ice Age will end this trend in about 5,000 years or so.
The Earth’s orbital relationship to the Sun and its polar angle contribute more to the mean temperature of the Earth than anything that humans can do, with the exception of a nuclear winter. Volcanoes also have a measurable effect.
Using all of the wealth of the people planet-wide to “fight global climate change” would result in zero effect on Earth’s climate over the next 100 years. None. However, it would put all of the nations into a New Stone Age, and likely do much to depopulate the planet of the human species. Think Holodomor planet-wide, not just in the Ukraine.
A fleet of ferry boats may be cheaper.
1. The US 90/98 causeway is nearly underwater as sea levels rise. (Sorry, head in the sand climate deniers.). So, Alabama is facing a major infrastructure cost to elevate it. How will that be paid?
2. The I-10 bayway is now 40 years old under heavy daily traffic. The bridges are already at functional deficiency, and within 20-30 years will be structurally deficient. Again higher sea levels, and more vulnerability to hurricane impact (i.e. see old US 90 Biloxi Bridge after Katrina and I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay after Ivan). The ESMPO and Gov. Ivey have punted away the problem (for now). But the question remains: how will a replacement be funded in the future, and when?
3. Much of the traffic in this system is local commuter. So, mass transit needs to be considered. Express commuter buses to major employment centers and park/kiss and ride lots needed in both counties.
4. A toll system for the causeway and bayway should be based upon time of travel, HOV use, prepay, weight, electric/hybrid, etc., not a flat fee system.
These are not new problems. Large metros have been working these problems for years. But one thing is certain… if single vehicle single occupant travel is all the ESMPO and ADOT consider as the solution, $6 and inflating tolls will come up again.
It’s inevitable.
Maybe someone could call Maryland and see if Representatives Elijah E. Cummings could divert a couple billion of the 15+ Billion that has apparently not been used in his district.
Damien Fournier and Jerry Richardson—you are both right. I think the answer is to add $1 tax to everyone’s income tax instead of a toll. Then install a really good toll taker (electronic) and charge anyone who lives outside a 100 mile radius who cross. Just send it in the mail to the car owner’s address.
To George Stokes, this a annual cost of $1080. We pay for roads and bridges already from our taxes from the federal, county and state gasoline taxes, and taxes when you purchase your automobile tags. Politicians just do not manage our monies very well.
Now that concept (bridge photo’s) looks like a modern bridge unlike the new 3 mile bridge in Pensacola that totally lacks personality.
South Florida sure gets whatever it wants for free.
In Alabama; we don’t spend money on useless things like roads, bridges and infrastructure…. .. We use our funds to but sporting memorabilia.
Great News!!!
The cost of infrastructure is staggering – the politicians are only going to screw the citizens in the future with higher costs and increased taxes
Good job Alabamaians. Now they will go to another part of the state where there is no one complaining about a toll that they could just go around if they didn’t want to pay. Enjoy your traffic jams. You can’t get good things for free, don’t listen to Bernie Sanders.
I think the people of the gulf coast is somewhat scared of the toll.however
If you could get it put togather it would be handled.when i was in school we
Took up collections for the USS ALABAMA we handled that and just look at it.
I would gladly pay the 90$ fee per mo.thats not out of line in my way of thinking. Thank you.
Was it the $6 amount that killed it or was it the general concept of a toll? This is indeed a victory for the “everything is free” crowd. An unintended consequence of all the national political fantasies about “Free this” and “Free that”. Just remember this, U.S. really does stand for “US”. There is no Wizard of Oz behind the curtain printing money all day. If Mobilians and Alabamians think they can fix this without a toll, prepare for a major tax bump. They pay for it either way. If they’re waiting for a White Knight from the Feds, don’t hold your breath. Just keep pushing peanut butter through that double-barrel straw.