The Alabama Department of Transportation closed the Bankhead Tunnel in downtown Mobile Thursday to allow crews to make emergency utility repairs, the agency said.
ALDOT said the closure began Thursday and will last for an undetermined amount of time while crews address the underlying problem. Drivers were advised to seek alternate routes while the tunnel is shut down.
ALDOT public information officer James Gordon said the closure was prompted by a water main break that caused a minor sinkhole inside the tunnel. He said the sinkhole was discovered during a routine inspection.
“It’s underneath the asphalt on the main road and it’s a pipe that belongs to MAWSS,” Gordon said, referring to the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System. “So, you know, there’s all kinds of utilities that run alongside the tunnel. One of those is water.”
After the sinkhole was found, ALDOT contacted MAWSS, which is responsible for the water line, to respond to the site. Crews were working Thursday on a temporary fix, and Gordon said the tunnel is expected to remain closed overnight. A permanent repair to the water line will be scheduled for a later date.
Gordon said the tunnel itself has no structural issues tied to the sinkhole or the water main break.
Background on the Closure
The Bankhead Tunnel carries traffic beneath the Mobile River, connecting downtown Mobile to the Africatown and Blakeley Island areas on the eastern shore side of the river. It is a heavily used commuter route for drivers moving between downtown and areas east of the river.
This is not the first time the tunnel has closed in recent weeks. It was shut down last month for planned overnight maintenance work, though Thursday’s closure was unplanned and tied specifically to the emergency utility repair.
ALDOT is urging motorists to plan for alternate routes while the tunnel remains closed and to check the ALGO app for real-time updates on when the tunnel reopens.