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Alabama has made great strides in improving our roads and bridges thanks to the Rebuild Alabama Act. Investments in infrastructure have created safer highways, boosted economic growth and improved the quality of life for communities across our state. However, a new proposal in the Legislature threatens to undo all this progress and recklessly put our roads – and the people who use them – at risk.
Senate Bill 110, which seeks to increase axle weight limits for certain trucks, is a dangerous and costly mistake. As a licensed professional engineer, I see firsthand the impact of heavy truck traffic on our roads. This legislation would significantly accelerate the wear and tear on Alabama’s highways and bridges, forcing local governments to shoulder increased maintenance costs while increasing safety risks for all road users.
The Hidden Cost of Heavier Trucks
Raising axle weight limits isn’t just a minor adjustment. Engineering studies show that heavier axle loads exponentially increase pavement damage. A single 18,000-pound axle can cause more than 3,000 times the damage of a standard passenger vehicle axle. With SB110, Alabama’s roads will deteriorate at a much faster rate, creating potholes, cracks and structural failures that endanger drivers and require costly repairs.
Even more concerning, state transportation officials estimate that approximately 350 bridges would need new weight restrictions if this bill becomes law. Many of these bridges serve as critical connectors for first responders, school buses and local businesses. Restricting their use would disrupt commerce and public services, while failing to restrict them could lead to structural failures with devastating consequences.
A Threat to Public Safety
There’s a simple and compelling reason why our laws limit axle weights – heavier axles increase the risk of fatal crashes. Increasing weight limits means longer stopping distances and higher likelihood of crashes. Rural communities, where roads are not built for excessive loads, will be particularly vulnerable.
A Costly Burden on Taxpayers
Supporters of SB110 claim it will benefit certain businesses, but they fail to mention who will pay the price: every hardworking Alabama taxpayer. As roads and bridges deteriorate faster, local and state governments will find it difficult to keep up with road maintenance costs. This will force them to divert funds from other critical needs – such as schools, public safety and economic development – to repair infrastructure damaged by overweight trucks. The Alabama Department of Transportation estimates that resurfacing and bridge replacement costs will increase by $150 million per year if SB110 becomes law. Likewise, Alabama counties estimate they’ll be on the hook for an additional $50-60 million every year due to the higher resurfacing costs forced on them if SB110 becomes law. Every dime will come out of hardworking taxpayers’ pockets. At a time when we should be investing in long-term solutions, this bill would force us to waste money on preventable damage.
Undermining Rebuild Alabama’s Progress
Just a few years ago, Alabama leaders came together in a bipartisan effort to pass the Rebuild Alabama Act, ensuring sustainable infrastructure funding for much-needed road and bridge improvements. SB110 threatens to undo this progress, taking us backward instead of forward. Why should we risk undoing the hard work and investments that have made our roads better and safer?
Legislators Must Reject SB110
Alabama’s roads are the backbone of our economy and our daily lives. Weakening the protections that keep them safe and functional is not a decision we can afford to make. I urge lawmakers to stand with local communities in opposing SB110. Let’s keep Alabama moving forward.
Jim Meads is president and chief executive officer of Sain Associates based in Birmingham, Ala., a leading transportation and engineering firm serving state transportation agencies and local governments throughout the Southeast. He is also a member of the national transportation steering committee for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), a member of the Alabama State Transportation Innovation Council and past President of the Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in 23 states.
