I-10 bridge project is a local and regional issue
DAPHNE, Ala. — The proposed I-10 bridge project could bring 12,000 jobs to Mobile, Baldwin and surrounding counties and would make a $1.8 billion impact, according to an economic impact study conducted by the University of South Alabama.
That study is part of the reason why Coastal Alabama Parternership CEO Wiley Blankenship is pushing so hard for the project. Blankenship met with local, regional, and national officials on Wednesday to discuss the results from a September trip to Washington D.C., where those same officials tried to rally support for the project from the federal government.
During the two-day trip the delegation met with the Federal Highway Transportation Administration, Alabama Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, Alabama Congressman Bradley Byrne, Florida Congressmen Ted Yoho and Steve Southerland, and Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise (Majority Whip) and members of the White House staff.
One thing stressed at the Wednesday meeting was the importance of making sure the public understands that the project is not just a local issue.
“We don’t view this as a Baldwin-Mobile issue,” Blankenship said. “We need to look at this as a Gulf Coast - I-10 issue. There are many other cities on the Gulf Coast that will be affected.”
Blankeship said that bottleneck traffic in the I-10 tunnel affects trucking because trucking companies lose money when their drivers sit idle during peak traffic hours. He also said that in the future, companies may choose not to relocate to the Gulf Coast because of the difficulty of traveling on I-10 through Mobile.
Blankenship cited a University of Alabama-Huntsville study that showed that I-10 is already over capacity and will only get worse if nothing is done to alleviate the traffic.
“You are going to get to a point where people stop using I-10 altogether,” he said. “That could hamper expansion in Pensacola, Mobile, Gulfport, New Orleans, or even Panama City. People are going look at the issues on I-10 and just avoid having to go through Mobile. We could potentially lose jobs all over the Gulf Coast.
“This is everybody’s issue. It impacts us all.”
The officials also discussed how to fund the project on Wednesday. One hot-button issue is the use of tolls. Blankenship said that some in the group are starting to think that a toll may be a good way to fund the hugely expensive project.
“Tolls aren’t always popular, but nationally they are used as a funding option for big projects like this,” he said. “I think it is something we need to keep on the table as a possible revenue stream.”
The next step in the project is a proving to the FHWA that the project is of “national and regional significance” through a submission from the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Blankenship said that survey will be submitted to the FHWA in November.
“Once that need is demonstrated, then Congress can consider funding it as interstate commerce,” Blankenship said.
Coastal Alabama Partnership is partnering with the Build the I-10 Bridge Coalition. Get more information about CAP’s efforts online at CoastalAlabama.org and BuildtheI10Bridge.com.