Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the Alabama Department of Transportation awarded Scott Bridge Company of Opelika a $22,065,595 contract to replace the northbound Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge on SR-77 over the Coosa River in Etowah County. Ivey approved the contract Nov. 3, 2026, after ALDOT received four bids. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2027 and finish by the end of 2029.
What it means
The project will replace the 87-year-old northbound bridge with a two-lane structure for northbound SR-77 traffic. The replacement bridge is planned to be 910 feet long and 36 feet wide, with two 12-foot lanes and 6-foot shoulders on each side.
The existing bridge is 868 feet long, 20 feet wide and about 10 feet above the Coosa River. The new bridge is planned to stand about 30 feet above the river. ALDOT said motorists should anticipate traffic-pattern changes while construction is underway.
Key facts
- Contract amount: $22,065,595.
- Contract awardee: Scott Bridge Company of Opelika, Alabama.
- ALDOT received four bids for the SR-77 bridge replacement.
- The existing northbound bridge is 87 years old.
- About 25,000 travelers cross the Coosa River on SR-77 each day.
- The replacement bridge will be 910 feet long with two 12-foot lanes.
- Construction is anticipated to start in early 2027 and conclude by the end of 2029.
Source: Office of the Governor of Alabama announcement