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November 11 2026
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Vol. XXVIII • No. 23
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MRB rendering
The new cable-stayed bridge will provide an additional Interstate crossing over the Mobile River while maintaining clearance for commercial shipping traffic.
Construction is moving forward on Alabama’s $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, a major Interstate 10 improvement program designed to reduce congestion, improve freight movement and increase highway capacity between Mobile and Baldwin counties. State, federal and local officials broke ground Oct. 2 at Cooper Riverside Park in downtown Mobile. The ceremony followed the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) Sept. 25 notice to proceed to the Kiewit Massman Traylor (KMT) design-build team. Construction officially
began Oct. 1. The five-year Phase One program includes a new 6-lane, cable-stayed bridge over the Mobile River; improvements to major interchanges and roadways; and modifications to the existing Bayway to provide six lanes of traffic across Mobile Bay. The bridge and associated highway improvements are expected to open to traffic in late 2031. ALDOT describes the project as the largest transportation infrastructure undertaking in Alabama history. The current construction program follows nearly three decades of
planning, engineering, environmental review and financing efforts. Bridge Design, Foundation Work The new cable-stayed bridge will provide an additional Interstate crossing over the Mobile River while maintaining clearance for commercial shipping traffic. The planned structure will span a navigation channel approximately 600 ft. wide, with at least 215 ft. of vertical clearance above the water. see BRIDGE page 6
RPI Rentals Opens New Birmingham HQ, Doubling Capacity
RPI Rentals announced Sept. 17, 2026, the opening of its new Birmingham headquarters, a newconstruction 32,500-sq.-ft. office and warehouse facility with an equipment yard on 24 acres. With an investment of approximately $10 million, the project more than doubles the company’s previous space, increasing its capacity to serve customers throughout the Birmingham metro area and
positioning RPI for continued growth. To celebrate its new headquarters, RPI brought together vendors and partners on Sept. 24 for an open house. The move puts the company in a more centralized location for clients, with improved access to all major interstates throughout the Birmingham metro area. The new headquarters supports approximately 25 employees. see RPI page 2
RPI Rentals office building exterior
RPI Rentals photo
Page 2 • November 11, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Lockheed Martin Expansion Gets $1M Water Line Grant A $1 million state grant will help fund water-line construction supporting an expansion of Lockheed Martin’s manufacturing operations in Troy, Ala., a project expected to create 300 jobs and increase production capacity at the aerospace and defense company’s Pike County facility. Gov. Kay Ivey awarded the grant Oct. 14, 2026, to support infrastructure improvements needed for the planned expansion, according to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Lockheed Martin plans to invest between $35 million and $50 million in an operational expansion at the Troy plant that will include at least one new facility. The company plans to increase annual production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interceptors from 96 to 400 over the next seven years. The water-line project is an important part of the area’s supporting infrastructure. In addition to serving Lockheed Martin, the improvements will support the Rex Lumber and Universal Precast industrial facilities in Troy. The upgraded system also is expected to improve water service for approximately 900 nearby residents. Local officials said the project will address
Lockheed Martin photo
Lockheed Martin plans to invest between $35 million and $50 million in an operational expansion at the Troy plant that will include at least one new facility.
existing limitations in the area’s water system while providing additional capacity to accommodate industrial growth. The Pike County Commission will contribute $755,000 in local matching funds toward the project. ADECA is administering the Community Development Block Grant through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The water-line grant comes as Lockheed Martin advances a separate major manufacturing expansion at its Troy operation. In May 2026, the company broke ground on Building 47, a new Munitions Production Center that will add 87,000 sq. ft. of production space. The facility is designed to support THAAD interceptor manufacturing and future work involving
the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). The company’s Troy operation is a large industrial campus covering approximately 3,863 acres. It includes 54 buildings, six of which are major production factories. The existing facilities support manufacturing, final assembly, testing and storage operations for several missile programs. The new facility is part of Lockheed Martin’s broader investment of more than $9 billion through 2030 to expand or upgrade more than 20 facilities across the United States. The company also is investing in manufacturing equipment, tooling, supplier capacity and workforce development to support increased production. At the May groundbreaking, Lockheed Martin officials said construction and equipment investments were moving forward to support the production increases. The company also discussed using digital project-management systems and predictive scheduling tools to monitor construction progress and identify potential supplyrelated delays. The water-line improvements will provide additional utility capacity for the growing industrial area, supporting both the company’s manufacturing plans and other local businesses. CEG
RPI Expands Resources to Better Serve Its Customers RPI from page 1
“With increased capacity for equipment and a more centralized location, we’re able to do more for our clients from this expanded office,” said Cary Thomas, vice president of RPI Rentals. “We are excited to provide our team the space and resources to build on our existing momentum and ensure that we can consistently provide the highest level of service to our clients.” The new headquarters significantly increases RPI’s
RPI Rentals mechanics working in the shop
RPI Rentals photo
RPI Rentals consumable showroom
capacity for equipment, consumables and materials laydown, positioning the company to better serve its growing client base. In addition to Alabama, RPI Rentals also has a strong presence in Texas, with additional offices in Austin and Houston. Project partners of RPI’s new Birmingham headquarters include Schoel Engineering and Goodgame Construction, with assistance from both the BCIA and the BBA. For more information, visit rpirents.com.
RPI Rentals photo
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 11, 2026 • Page 3
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Page 4 • November 11, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
For 70 years, Thompson Tractor has set the industry standard for on-the-job safety. It starts with our legendary Cat® machines, designed and built with advanced safety features like object detection, that help reduce risk and inspire confidence. But it carries on with Thompson’s
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 11, 2026 • Page 5
THOMPSON HAS ALWAYS PLACED A PRIORITY ON SAFETY. AND THAT’S NO ACCIDENT.
exhaustive safety training programs and constant safety reinforcement. Above all, Thompson Tractor is committed to the safety of those who both work on our equipment and those who operate it.
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Page 6 • November 11, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
New Mobile River Bridge Enters Multiyear Construction Phase BRIDGE from page 1
The cable-stayed main span is planned to extend approximately 2,575 ft. across the river, supported by two pylons. The western pylon will be located near the Alabama Cruise Terminal, while the eastern pylon will be situated near the Pinto Pass peninsula. High-level approach structures extending approximately 1 mi. on either side of the main bridge will connect the elevated crossing to the surrounding highway network. The western approach will begin east of the Virginia Street interchange in Mobile. On the eastern side, the bridge will connect to I-10 between the existing Bayway bridges. Foundation investigations have been part of the project’s preconstruction engineering. KMT conducted load testing on 72-in.-diameter steel pipe piles to evaluate their capacity for supporting the bridge’s main pylons. The results help engineers assess foundation performance and inform final design decisions. The bridge’s height and long approach structures are necessary to provide clearance for vessels using the Mobile Harbor Federal Navigation Channel while connecting the river crossing to the existing interstate. ALDOT and KMT have not yet released a confirmed public inventory of the major construction equipment planned for the project or a verified final pylon height. Highway, Bayway Improvements In addition to the river crossing, Phase One includes interchange, intersection and traffic-flow improvements throughout the I-10 corridor in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Planned improvements include connections at Broad Street, Virginia Street and Texas Street in Mobile, along with work near the tunnel approaches and the U.S. 90/98 interchange on the Eastern Shore. The work will connect the new bridge to the existing highway network and improve traffic movement through the corridor. Rather than replace the entire Bayway during Phase One, ALDOT will restripe the existing structure to provide three travel lanes in each direction. Approximately 1 mi. of the
MRB rendering
The planned structure will span a navigation channel approximately 600 ft. wide, with at least 215 ft. of vertical clearance above the water.
Bayway also will be reconstructed to connect it to the new bridge. A second phase calls for construction of a new Bayway structure when additional funding becomes available. The original plan to build a new Bayway at the same time as the river bridge became financially difficult following increases in construction, labor and material costs, along with additional engineering and geotechnical challenges. The revised approach allows Alabama to proceed with the new river crossing and near-term capacity improvements while retaining the longer-term goal of replacing the existing Bayway. Financing, Regional Benefits The $3.2 billion Phase One program is supported by a $2.52 billion federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan, a $550 million Bridge Investment Program grant, a $125 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding
America grant, state funding and bonds issued through the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority. The additional capacity is intended to reduce congestion along I-10, strengthen freight connections to the Port of Mobile and improve regional access. The new bridge also will provide an Interstate route for vehicles carrying hazardous materials that are prohibited from using the Wallace Tunnel. Those vehicles currently must travel through local streets and neighborhoods to cross the river. The project is expected to improve regional connectivity and support hurricane evacuations along the Gulf Coast. With financing completed and the design-build team authorized to proceed, the project is entering a multiyear construction phase. Work will focus on delivering the new river crossing and associated I-10 improvements, while construction of a replacement Bayway remains dependent on additional funding. For more information, visit aldot.gov. CEG
ALDOT photo
State, federal and local officials broke ground Oct. 2 at Cooper Riverside Park in downtown Mobile on the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 11, 2026 • Page 7
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