Governor Approves $22 Million Gilbert's Ferry Bridge Contract
Scott Bridge Company of Opelika will replace the 87-year-old SR-77 bridge over the Coosa River between Southside and Rainbow City.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Utilities
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Gov. Kay Ivey approved a $22,065,595 contract with Scott Bridge Company to replace the northbound Gilbert's Ferry Bridge on SR-77 over the Coosa River. Scott Bridge Company submitted the lowest of four bids for the project.
Why it matters
The northbound span carries about 25,000 travelers daily across the Coosa River, and the 87-year-old structure is being replaced with a wider two-lane bridge. Motorists in Alabama's Southside and Rainbow City area should expect changing traffic patterns during construction.
The $22,065,595 contract was awarded to the lowest of four bidders, and the replacement bridge will be 36 feet wide and 910 feet long, compared with the existing 20-foot-wide, 868-foot-long structure. The contract figure reflects the winning bid, while the final cost of the project has not been reported.
The players
Kay Ivey
Kay Ivey is the Governor of Alabama, who approved the state contract for the bridge replacement.
Scott Bridge Company
Scott Bridge Company is a bridge construction firm based in Opelika, Alabama, that won the contract with the lowest bid.
The details
The contract was approved November 3, 2026, to replace the northbound Gilbert's Ferry Bridge on SR-77, which crosses the Coosa River between Southside and Rainbow City. The new structure will be a two-lane bridge replacing the 87-year-old span.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Governor approved the $22 million bridge contract.
Early 2027: Construction is expected to begin.
End of 2029: Construction is expected to be completed.
Roadmap
The project is one of many state-funded replacements of aging Alabama Department of Transportation bridges, reflecting a statewide effort to address structures built decades ago. It shows how the state is funding replacements through competitively bid contracts rather than rehabilitation alone.
Drivers who cross the Coosa River on SR-77 between Southside and Rainbow City will face changing traffic patterns during construction. The wider two-lane replacement will improve the crossing once the work is complete.
The takeaway
Commuters on SR-77 should plan for lane shifts and possible delays starting in early 2027, while the completed two-lane bridge is slated for service by the end of 2029.
What happens next
Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and finish by the end of 2029, with changing traffic patterns expected during the work.
Further reading
For more on infrastructure spending across the state, see Alabama Utilities.
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