GORDO, AL — The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) recently began the final phase of the Gordo Bypass. The project is expected to improve safety, mobility, and commerce in West Alabama.

The project will realign US-82 from the northwest city limits of Gordo to just east of the Tuscaloosa County line. Once completed, US-82 will become a four-lane corridor stretching from the Mississippi state line to Tuscaloosa. The 8.14-mile project is expected to continue for approximately two years.

S.T. Bunn Construction Company was awarded the $45.59 million contract with the project funded through an 80/20 split — 80 percent paid by the federal government and 20 percent paid by the state.

Phase one, which focused on earthmoving activities, drainage, and bridge construction, was completed last year. Phase two, which is the final phase, will focus on the base and pavement.

The final phase of the project was initially scheduled for bid in May, but due to a newspaper error, the required advertisement was not published. By state law, ALDOT must run the bid advertisement twice before the bid opening. ALDOT had already opened bids before learning of the oversight, which revealed the contractors’ bids. As a result, the project had to be rebid, ultimately costing the state an additional $1.76 million.