Interstate 10 traverses the southernmost portion of Alabama between Moss Point, Mississippi and Pensacola, Florida. The route aids in cross-country travel, commerce, and with hurricane evacuation. Serving the city of Mobile, Interstate 10 also acts as the main route to the growing eastern suburbs in Baldwin County along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. ALDOT has an ambitious plan to six-lane all of Interstate 10 on its 66-mile trek across southwestern Alabama.
Interstate 10 McDonald Road Interchange (Exit 10) construction
Construction began Spring 2003 on a new six-ramp partial cloverleaf interchange of Interstate 10 near milepost 10. This junction improves access to the St. Elmo, Irvington, and Bayou La Batre communities of southwest Mobile County. Depicted here is the beginning of a new four lane alignment that will stem from original McDonald Road to the north. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Looking eastward at the future McDonald Road overpass from the original roadway. The new road sees four lanes and grassy medians between Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 nearby at Irvington. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Looking eastward at the future Exit 10A ramp to McDonald Road southbound. A collector/distributor roadway system is under construction for the eventual Exit 10B ramp to Mobile County 39 northbound. Upon completion of this project, the existing two lane overpass from which this photograph was taken, was dismantled. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Four lanes of Interstate 10 continue through the construction site as seen from the Mobile County 39 overpass to the west. The new four lane highway ties into Mobile County 19/Irvington Bayou La Batre Highway at U.S. 90 to improve access to the coastal shrimping town of Bayou La Batre. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Peering westward at four lane Interstate 10 as it continues through rural environs of south Mobile County. The new interchange brought an end to an uninterrupted nine mile stretch between Exits 4 and 13. The Exit 10 project opened to traffic on January 12, 2005. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Scenes pertaining to Interstate 10 - Mobile
A look at the understructure of the Water Street ramps to/from Interstate 10 at Downtown Mobile. The interchange features sweeping flyovers over the local street grid below. The proximity of the interchange to the tunnel requires sharp ramps to curve upwards from Interstate 10 to the six lane Water Street boulevard. Photo taken 08/21/03.
From the same location of which the above photograph was taken, the Water Street ramp partition for Interstate 10 east and west. Two lanes are allocated for the westbound merge and one turns northward toward the Wallace Tunnel of I-10 east. Photo taken 08/21/03.
The scene of Interstate 10 westbound as it curves out of the Wallace Tunnel at the Water Street stack interchange. This view is taken from a perch adjacent to the Mobile Government Plaza parking lot on Church Street. Photo taken 06/03.
The same scene of Interstate 10 at Water Street as seen during the Summer. Unfortunately views of the eastern portal are not so easily accessed. Photo taken 06/13/04.
Peering at the first Interstate 10 sign bridge for Water Street. If Interstate 210 were to have been completed, this scene would represent the northbound beginning of the six mile plus loop. Photo taken 08/21/03.
Up close and personal view of the Interstate 10 Pascagoula and Exit 26B overheads at the Wallace Tunnel westbound portal. Photo taken 06/13/04.
Shifting the focus to the west and the George C. Wallace Tunnel entrance and Fort Conde above. Photo taken 06/13/04.
Interstate 10 East Frontage Roads (Mobile)
A two lane frontage road exists between the split diamond interchange at Duval and Broad Streets in south Mobile. This scene looks eastbound at the roadway as it departs Duval Street. There is no development on this roadway as access is controlled. In this scene an ALDOT worker is installing a traffic counter. Photo taken 11/03/03.
The east end of the frontage road at Broad Street and the Exit 24 on-ramp to Interstate 10 east. To the right is the parallel CSX Railroad line and overcrossing of Broad Street. Photo taken 11/03/03.
Interstate 10 West Frontage Roads (Mobile)
The frontage road system of Interstate 10 in Mobile travels between Broad and Duval Streets split diamond interchange of Exit 25B. Depicted here is the two lane eastbound frontage road as it departs Broad Street. There is no barrier between the frontage road system and the Interstate 10 mainline. However a chain link fence is posted along the north side of the frontage road. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Unlike the Interstate 65/Beltline Highway frontage road system, the shorter Interstate 10 frontage road system sees no development. The eastbound roadway does feature a slip ramp to the residential roadway Nellie Street. Otherwise Duval Street and the westbound on-ramp for Interstate 10 is ahead. Photo taken 11/05/03.
Scenes pertaining to Interstate 10 - Mobile Bay
Views of the Mobile Bayway looking east from U.S. 90 & 98. The entire Bayway is illuminated with variable message and speed limit signs in place. These signs were installed after sea fog caused a major traffic disaster with a 150+ car pileup in the early 1990s. The water itself, is only a few inches deep in this photograph.
During heavy rain events such as tropical storms and hurricanes, the causeway portion of U.S. 90 & 98 oftentimes is closed due to flood waters. At these times, Interstate 10 acts as the only roadway between Mobile and the Eastern Shore of Baldwin County. The bayway itself carries just four lanes. An expansion is planned however, in conjunction with a new high-level bridge over Mobile River itself, to bring the Bayway up to eight lanes in overall width. Current thinking is that this expansion project may be complete by 2012. 1st photo taken 03/05/99; remaining photos taken 08/21/03.
