Do you remember when construction of the new Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) bridge was halted while several entities were in court? Scott Bridge Company remembers the situation well and is seeking approximately $7 million of an injunction bond that valued $9 million in total.

Scott Bridge Company anticipates that a new bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) will be completed by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the bridge builder is hoping to recoup some of the losses suffered when the project was put on hold amid a legal battle.

Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC) filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) after Scott Bridge Company began work on the new bridge, only a mile away from the toll bridge.

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Scott Bridge Company was shut down for nearly six months after a judge entered an injunction. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) eventually acquired the BCBC bridge, and the case was dismissed; however, the injunction cost the Scott Bridge Company millions, according to the owner.

Ike Scott said ALDOT owes his company $9 million of an injunction claim from ALDOT. Only $2 million has been paid.

"There were repercussions from this," Scott told 1819 News. "We were shut down during the best weather, May 17, all the way through the end of September, so I think our bill was around $9 million and that's almost exactly what we projected for the court for the injunction bond."

Scott said the lawsuit hurt his company the most. "We got shut down and BCBC got paid $63 million," said Scott. "It seems like everybody else has been paid for the bridge, so it adds insult to injury."

Scott said his company underbid the construction of the bridge, and ALDOT is getting a deal. The $51.5 million price tag on the new bridge is less than the $60 million the state paid BCBC for the former toll bridge.

Scott paid his employees through the downtime and found other jobs in the region for them to work on while they waited for the legal process to take its course.

"Bridge builders don't do good just sitting around," Scott said. "So, I'm always going to do the right thing. That's how you stay around for 92 years."

Scott has filed a claim with ALDOT, requesting the remaining funds owed. However, he said personnel changes within ALDOT's claims process caused a delay. A claims committee has scheduled a hearing, and Scott said he will remain optimistic. He stated that his company has been a valuable partner to ALDOT and has taken steps to facilitate the project's progress.

"I remain optimistic, but it is disappointing," said Scott. "It is disappointing that it's taken this long for us to, you know, have a claims appeal, have a claims hearing."

Scott said ALDOT Director John Cooper will have the final say to approve the claim, and he hopes he does the right thing.

"Mr. Cooper, he knows what all we did down there, and he knows what good partners we have been on that job, and it's been a tough job," Scott added.

Though ALDOT does not typically comment on pending claims, Tony Harris, ALDOT's chief of communications, stated, "The claims process is governed by ALDOT's contract with the contractor."

As for the project, there is visible evidence that the bridge is coming together. Workers have already set some of the structural steel, which is the heaviest part of the job. Some of the steel structures on the bridge span up to 330 feet. Traffic will be closed from 6 a.m. on June 24 to 6 p.m. on June 26 to set more structural steel. Scott said the job will be done very cautiously because of the high-risk nature of moving such large pieces of structural steel.

ALDOT has two related projects ongoing. The ICW Bridge roadway construction on State Route 161 is expected to be completed by Spring 2026. The roadway from County Road 4 to the junction of Foley Beach Express is expected to be completed by Summer 2026.

The new bridge is expected to have an estimated lifetime of 100 years.