General

Are the new engineers working on Highway 98 more experienced?

The new staff brings a wealth of different expertise to the project. Our chief engineer on this project has a significant background with environmental projects, and we also have an environmental team with a more diverse background at the central office.

Considering the time delays and costs, wouldn’t widening the existing 98 been better use of taxpayer money?

Widening the existing 98 as opposed to designing a separate route was studied thoroughly prior to the project’s approval. It was determined then that widening 98 would fail to remove logging trucks and other commercial traffic from the residentially dense area. In fact, it is likely that widening the current 98 would have led to greater traffic and congestion in the future. It would have also created problems for local businesses, churches , and other property owners.

Has anyone in the Ninth Division been disciplined over this project, and why not?

No. We feel it is important for our team to learn from this project, and use that education to make future projects better. I can assure you that this has been a learning experience for everyone involved in the project, and in some ways this project is changing how we do business all over the state.

How is ALDOT improving communications with area residents regarding this project?

We are holding community meetings to provide information and answer questions. Using an opern format, we are allowing questions from everyone involved in the process. We are also planning a community outreach group, comprised of volunteers from the community which will play an active role in the construction phase. This web site contains updated information on the project and community information. We have a toll-free telephone number to serve as a community hotline to answer questions.

How is MAWSS now involved in the project?

We consider MAWSS to be a partner in this effort. Since the very beginning MAWSS has been involved in the project and we are still working closely with them and their environmental engineers.

How is the work being inspected now as opposed to before the project was shut down?

We realized from this project that we needed to provide our own policing, and raise our standards. We’ve voluntarily increased self-monitoring by submitting site inspection reports to ADEM weekly, instead of monthly, as well as after qualified rainfall events. Those in charge of the project are environmental and storm water experts who have been instructed to closely monitor the project.

How much damage was done to wetlands surrounding the project, as well as the streams and water supply?

A mitigation plan has been developed and work is currently under way to develop a plan for removing material that left the project site.

How much does an average mile of four lane road cost and how would this compare to 98?

The average cost for one mile of four lane road is about five million dollars. While this is an average of the department’s cost, it is nearly impossible to define what an average road would be. With its environmental and topography challenges, alternate 98 certainly isn’t an average road. And the widening of the existing 98 would not be considered average either.

How much erosion has occurred since the state took the project over?

At this point we believe the amount was minimal. We are working with ADEM to determine specific levels. The project is now in compliance with best management practices.

How much will clean up of the wetlands, streams, lake and private land cost and how long will it take?

We are working closely with ADEM to evaluate the clean efforts and cost but we have not identified any specific cost.

How much will it cost?

The full project is estimated to cost between 85 to 100 Million dollars. We will not have a final cost until all environmental and design issues are identified. We are committed to performing the best and most environmentally sensitive job possible, regardless of the cost.

Is Mobile’s drinking water is safe?

MAWSS would not distribute the water if that were not the case.

Is the same contractor still working on the project?

The contractor is under contract to complete the project. They have remained on the job and fulfilled the remediation effort admirably.

What did the independent consultant find wrong?

The main infractions included:Project contractor had not always worked in accordance with contract requirements. ALDOT did not always enforce contract requirements. ALDOT storm water inspection reports did not always reflect actual field conditions. The project experienced slope failures and erosion resulting in sediment accumulations off site.

What happened to the area’s gopher tortoises?

Tortoises were relocated to a 600 acre, secure habitat ALDOT previously purchased for this specific purpose. A fence along right-of-way lines will help prevent remaining tortoises from venturing into harm’s way. ALDOT has received national environmental awards for its wildlife preservation efforts.

What problems do you anticipate before completing the project and what are you doing to prevent them?

Each and every project has challenges. One of the problems we have been addressing deals with the slope of the highway. We have travelled to other states to review state of the art technologies in stabilization and drainage. We are exploring every option and we fully intend to implement the best solution.

What specifically is being done to prevent erosion problems now, and are they working?

We have changed our focus from sediment control to erosion controll. We hope to do a beter job preventing erosion, than we have done containing sediment, and thus far it is working. To understand this, we must understand that erosion can occur whenever water comes in contact with soil. We are covering the soil with vegetation or large gravel to prevent this from occurring. The longer the grass and vegetation grows, and takes root, the better our success at lessening future erosion.

What steps has ALDOT taken since September 2007?

Oversight of the project was immediately assigned to ALDOT’s Central Office Construction Bureau based in Montgomery. Additionally, an independent engineering firm was hired to manage environmental compliance and day-to-day construction issues with close oversight from ALDOT Central Office environmental and construction engineers. A major effort has been undertaken to prevent sediment from leaving the project site, to identify how much material left the site and to come up with a plan for removing sediment that entered private property, wetlands, streams or water supply.

What was the original problem?

The significant issues centered on the best management practices not being met. When the central office took over the project, their first priority was to ensure that our BMPs met, or exceeded the requirements. We are now in compliance.

What would it cost to abandon the new road and widen the existing 98?

We have not calculated a cost on this because it is not an option. We have already completed the most difficult, and the bulk of, environmental challenges on this project. It makes no sense, environmentally or otherwise, to go backwards at this point.

When is the entire highway to be completed?

The entire project has been divided into four parts. It is difficult to determine the completion date of the total project until all environmental and design issues have been fully identified and addressed. However, we can say that approximately 80 percent of the current project is completed as of February 2007.

Why does ALDOT refuse to have a comprehensive environmental impact study performed for this project?

An EIS is not required for this project, but rather an environmental assessment was required and completed prior to any construction. In completing the assessment, ALDOT exceeded all state and federal standards. ALDOT did every component of a full EIS except the extended public comment period.

Why was construction work stopped on the new Highway 98 project?

Last September, construction work was stopped for four months after it was discovered several phases of the project were not in compliance and best management practices were not being met. At that point, ALDOT hired an independent consultant to assess the project and make recommendations for bringing it back into compliance.