Their job is to design a new bridge that could well save the sanity of thousands of commuters in south Alabama who regularly find themselves parked on Interstate 10’s most statistically notable traffic trap while attempting to reach jobs in Mobile or the area’s beaches. A team led by Thompson Engineering has been selected by the Alabama Department of Transportation as the design firm for the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Widening project.
“Our team’s experts know the issues relating to the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway corridor because we live here, ” said Thompson Engineering CEO Jimmy Shumock. “We’ve also created some of the world’s most iconic bridges and gateways, and we’ve worked on projects up and down the Mobile River and on both sides of Mobile Bay.”
The I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Widening project will increase the capacity of I-10 by constructing a new bridge across the Mobile River and widening the existing I-10 bridges across Mobile Bay. Design work will include decisions on a multitude of details, from the visual appeal of the cable stay bridge to pedestrian access points to lighting that complements that of Mobile’s skyline.
“This project is about more than building a bridge. It’s about connecting communities, improving neighborhoods and creating a safer environment for the drivers of Mobile and those who drive through our city, ” said Shumock. “This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity and we’re privileged to be a part of it.”
In addition to Thompson, primary team members are HDR Engineering and Hatch Mott McDonald. Others include Neel-Schaffer, Corven Engineering, Dan Brown & Associates, Armeni Consulting Services, Hand Arendall, Engineering & Planning Resources, MIG, Touchstone Architecture, Illumination Arts, RWDI Consulting Engineers and Hinman Consulting.
Text by Dave Helms
