A federal loan supports a new river crossing and expanded highway capacity, with potential benefits for truck traffic and Port of Mobile access.
Truck drivers traveling through Mobile, Alabama, could eventually have another interstate crossing that reduces congestion and provides a direct route for hazardous materials freight.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced September 18 that the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority will receive a federal loan of up to $2.52 billion for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project. The financing comes through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, administered by DOT’s Build America Bureau.
For hazmat haulers, the planned bridge addresses a longstanding routing restriction. Hazardous materials are prohibited from the George Wallace Tunnel, requiring hundreds of trucks each day to use alternate roads through Mobile. DOT says the project will provide those vehicles with a direct interstate route, moving that freight away from downtown streets and nearby neighborhoods.
The first phase includes a new six-lane, cable-stayed bridge over the Mobile River. Plans also call for reconstructing approximately one mile of the existing Bayway and restriping its full 7.5-mile length to provide three lanes in each direction. Interchange and intersection improvements in Mobile and Baldwin counties will support the added capacity.
Alabama is using a phased approach rather than replacing the entire Bayway immediately. According to the project fact sheet, a new Bayway structure is planned for a later phase. The revised approach responds to rising construction costs and engineering challenges while preserving the goal of increasing capacity across Mobile Bay.
Federal officials estimate the completed improvements could shorten travel times by as much as 30 minutes and improve access to the Port of Mobile. For port-serving fleets and drivers passing through the Gulf Coast, more reliable travel could make delivery scheduling easier. The projected time savings are an expected benefit, rather than a guarantee for every trip.
The project also includes a toll collection system. The Build America Bureau currently projects the new bridge opening around 2031 and says toll collection will begin only when it opens. Alabama’s fact sheet states that existing designated free routes will remain free.
The financing milestone does not change today’s truck routes. Hazmat drivers must continue following existing tunnel restrictions and approved alternate routes until the new crossing is open. The immediate development is funding progress toward a future route designed to keep more freight on the interstate.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: October 5, 2026
