Mobile County engineering staff accepted a quality pavement award from the Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association on Dec. 22 for the Tanner Williams Road widening project.

The county engineer, speaking to the commission, said the project covered about two miles from Zeigler Boulevard to Snow Road and included construction of a new two‑lane bridge with a pedestrian walkway, upgraded signalized intersections and lighting. Work required maintaining traffic through construction; traffic counts at the time of bidding in 2022 were described as roughly 12,000 to 14,000 vehicles per day. The engineer estimated the project cost at about $20 million to $21 million and credited a mix of funding sources and many county staff and partner firms for delivering the project.

Frank Turner Construction served as the contractor on the project. Design and construction engineering and inspection services were provided by Volkert; Southern Earth Sciences supplied geotechnical services, the engineer said.

Commissioners and staff highlighted the logistical challenges of keeping traffic moving during phased construction and noted the project included upgraded pedestrian accommodations and modernized traffic equipment at several intersections. A supplemental agreement to install guardrail and anchors and a change order to expand work on the project were recorded later on the agenda and approved as consent items.

Why it matters: the project is an arterial corridor improvement intended to ease congestion near several schools and residential areas by widening the road, improving intersections and adding pedestrian infrastructure. County staff said public complaints during construction were minimal compared with the scale of the work.

What happens next: the supplemental agreement approved on the consent agenda will be implemented through the county’s construction oversight processes.