Mobile Development Thread

[Muskavon]

^ Maybe we ought to make a separate tanker thread to keep the Mobile thread less contentious especially considering how highly political it has become and this is a presidential election year. I still feel the need to gripe about it and get things off my chest, but I'm trying not to hurt the overall Mobile thread by expressing them all because they become unavoidably and inherently political at their most basic level.

Anyway, I wanted to ask about this article in the Press-Register regarding the possible I-10 bridge proposals across the bay....

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1214385407232400.xml&coll=3

Is there somewhere where a person can view all the proposed routes easily? I was on ADOT's site a week ago or so and didn't notice any obvious info regarding it (and I was having trouble staying online while on the site, so I gave up digging thru it). Any good links?

[10101000]

Good Morning my fellow Mobilians! How are you all today?


Faulkner State Community College hopes to begin avionics classes in 2009, part of a continuing state push to expand the training of aerospace workers. And the Mobile Aviation Center will likely lease a new building for students to work on planes, replacing a damaged hangar.

Bradley Byrne, chancellor of the state's two-year college system, held a news conference Wednesday at the Mobile Aviation Center to say that aviation worker training must continue despite the setback for Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS North America in their quest to assemble military refueling tankers at the Brookley Field Industrial Complex.

Last week, the Government Accountability Office upheld the protest of rival Boeing Co. that the Air Force had improperly awarded the contract to the Northrop Grumman team. That means the Air Force could have to restart the selection process, delaying a decision and casting doubt on whether the project will come to Mobile.

We would be foolish to wait," Byrne said of the delay. "We know that aviation, without EADS, without Northrop Grumman, is going to continue to grow here in Mobile."

Gary Branch, president of Baldwin County's Faulkner state, said he hoped the aviation electronics program would begin on the Bay Min ette campus with 25 to 30 students. That program still needs state approvals.

The Aviation Center has been teaching avionics for about two years. It has about 20 students in that field, said Larrie Zimmer, the center's director. Another 130 or so take classes in airplane maintenance.

Matthew Hughes, head of the governor's office of workforce development, said the center is looking to lease a new building at Brookley to store planes that students must work on in their classes. The old building was damaged by two hurricanes, he said.

[sandebr00]

I don't know if this is the most recent article concerning the proposed I-10 bridge, but according to the first link provided below, ALDOT has narrowed the possible sites from around 14 to 3, and this article contains a link showing the placement of the 3 finalists.

The article makes clear, however, that there is no consensus as to which of the three routes, if any, would be in the best interests of Mobile. In fact, a lot of business owners and historical preservationists appear to endorse a fourth alternative, which would increase the size of the I-65 and the Cochrane Bridge (off I-165), and route traffic from I-65 to the Cochrane bridge, and then onto the causeway, and eventually onto I-10.

According to the second article included below, "[a] state Transportation Department study from last year showed that shipyards could experience anywhere from $40 million to $250 million a year in lost business because of an I-10 bridge," which seems to confirm the objections of those who favor the I-65 route. However, the I-65 route is obviously not the most convenient route, nor is it the least expensive. So, there are benefits and drawbacks to each of the four routes being discussed.

http://mobilebaytimes.com/bridge.html

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1214385407232400.xml&coll=3

[LHG]

I've heard the Civic Center Complex loses approx. $1M a year. The site is ripe for redevelopment.

[elb401]

the thing about the bridge is that it can destroy the whole reason for it. if it is placed over the ship yards......mobile county can stand to loss a net 1,000 jobs....this includes the gain from the steal mill and other expansions. the I-65 cochran bridge might be a little different but it can work. I have driven it several times and if the additions are made it would be faster than taking I-10 during the busy summer days.

but again its either getting people over the bay faster........or preserving thousands of jobs in Mobile. I hope they can find a way around it.

I would love to achieve both if it could happen, but if not I prefer to keep the thousands of jobs and use the northern route.

[SouthSky]

Aside from some proposed improvements to the northern route, I have heard that a western bypass is closer to reality than I once thought. I've heard somewhere between 2-5 years with more opinions siding on the shorter time frame.

This would aide travelers on I-10 transiting Mobile and more easily send them on a northern route.

[bayou15]

Hey cuz how many floors is the new hotel u talked about geauxing to be ?

20-25 stories?

[Muskavon]

As a Pensacolian who only travels thru Mobile (on my way to Casinos most of the time), I'd have to be sold how a widened northern 65 route would really alleviate traffic. Maybe it would take Mobilian/Baldwin residents off the main fair, but I'd have to see it to believe it. When you get beyond Mobile's plight, there is another issue. The I-10 corridor as a railroad for lack of a better term. It is a major commercial route. There is a study (I apologize for not linking it as I've just changed computers) that makes it clear even 6 lanes between New Orleans and Jacksonville will barely keep up with the needs by 2030. The Bay Bridge is an obvious bottleneck that must be addressed for trucks more than anything else. It is a costly delay situation on a national order beyond Mobile and our desires. The rest is much easier to expand. If you can honestly tell me that I and the truckers will pass easily thru the tunnel from now on with a 65 bypass...cool. But I think you know it won't help the real problem. Especially as Mobile and East Shore grows. You need a minimum of 6-8 lanes coming and going. And you need to kill all of those people who slow to 20mph to go thru the tunnel. Er...it is the same effing road you saw outside....just a roof over it...get over it and effing drive!

[Muskavon]

But I should mention a I-65 bridge would probably take NW Floridians right over the area of the proposed new racetracks. That would be an incredible bonus for Mobile. As it is...I know where it is going to be built...but I'd have to feel my way to the area. I've never been on or seen I-165.

[sandebr00]

I think the I-65 proposal could work if the State required all large commercial vehicles to travel it, and transportation officials got the word out to Mobilians, Pensacolians, and those along the MS Gulf Coast that the route would be faster for them. If all large commerical vehicles and many of the people living in or around the Mobile area used the alternate route, this potentially could allieviate some of the traffic. To further alleviate congestion, ALDOT needs to straighten the entrance to the tunnel, which might have the effect of getting people to drive faster through the tunnel, and not crawl at 20 mph. Finally, state transportation officials need to install signs along the interstate explaining that people can take one of the exits to downtown, and go through the old tunnel. Again, I don't think that this is a fix for all of the present and future congestion along that portion of I-10, but it could alleviate a substantial portion of it.

[elb401]

I agree. I think the northern route plan also includes forcing some of the truck traffic (and through traffic) to take it. Getting the big 18 wheelers away from the tunnel. The bridge over the bay will be 6 laned as the cochran bridge and I-10 come together somewhere between the causway and the current bridge. I hope a western bypass is built. it could reall help the situation!

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

The most important point is that looking beyond America's borders is essential if the country is to maintain the best possible fighting force. U.S. companies don't have a monopoly on the best military technology. Closing America's borders to foreign defense contractors could also make life harder for Boeing and other U.S. firms when they try to do business overseas. European leaders will be furious if the Northrop-EADS contract is canceled for what seem to be political reasons, and could retaliate with protectionism of their own.

All the more reason for the Air Force to wrap up the renewed tanker bidding quickly and decisively.

That could cause turmoil.

[10101000]

Originally Posted by CottonCity251

That could cause turmoil.

Your right, but who cares?

[Electrical Porpoise]

There is no need for a southern bridge. We need to protect all the land we can for the port. As for the previous plans that included taking out Bender, those were just terrible ideas.

I personally think we already have a bridge. Perhaps the city could put maybe one sign up on I-65, rework part of I-165, and use the enormous bridge we already have.

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by Electrical Porpoise

There is no need for a southern bridge. We need to protect all the land we can for the port. As for the previous plans that included taking out Bender, those were just terrible ideas.

I personally think we already have a bridge. Perhaps the city could put maybe one sign up on I-65, rework part of I-165, and use the enormous bridge we already have.

The Africatown Bridge doesn't help relieve traffic now on I-10 until the tunnel is already bagged-up. Sending folks on a detour won't fix congestion in the Wallace tunnel. The way I see it is either build a bridge or invest the money in public transit.

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by Electrical Porpoise

There is no need for a southern bridge. We need to protect all the land we can for the port. As for the previous plans that included taking out Bender, those were just terrible ideas.

I personally think we already have a bridge. Perhaps the city could put maybe one sign up on I-65, rework part of I-165, and use the enormous bridge we already have.

I laugh every time I come home on I-65 at the lack of signage for the I-165 bypass. All of the huge overhead signs say "To Prichard" and "To Downtown". There is one tiny little roadside sign right next to the I-165 exit that says "To I-10". If you were dependent on that sign to let you know it is an option you either would not see it or you would not be able to get over in time. They just need good signs and they need to force all truck traffic to that route. I've used that general route a few times to go downtown for Mardi Gras when coming from Auburn, but where I live it just isn't convenient.

[10101000]

Build your own sign, homemade!! LOL I am joking, sorry.

[Electrical Porpoise]

Originally Posted by CottonCity251

The Africatown Bridge doesn't help relieve traffic now on I-10 until the tunnel is already bagged-up. Sending folks on a detour won't fix congestion in the Wallace tunnel. The way I see it is either build a bridge or invest the money in public transit.

How would it not? It doesn't help now because nobody except for locals know of it, and if they made it where US 90 (Bay Bridge Rd) was connected to I-165 ( off ramp off of the existing route to downtown) it would reroute all of the traffic coming and going from the north - nor would it be a detour, rather a shorter trip. Im talking about making it a permanent highway/interstate from I-65 to the Bayway with no traffic lights and something that will read as such on a map. You dont think that would help traffic?

Originally Posted by (Tim)

Build your own sign, homemade!! LOL I am joking, sorry.

I just might!

[10101000]

I would love to see it!

[bayou15]

why not two more tunnels? dig them deeper at 60'