Detours to begin Monday as City of Mobile starts $478k underpass project in Midtown

Upgrades are coming to a problematic railroad underpass in Midtown Mobile. Construction crews are set to shut down a significant stretch of Old Shell Road to do some much-needed improvements.

Keep reading to find out how long the detours will last and the unique way this project is being funded.

Details on the project

The project represents a public-private partnership between the City of Mobile and the Community of Mobile, Inc. The latter was started in 2021 to beautify the heavily trafficked railroad underpass, an initiative they’re finally getting off the ground.

The price tag on this project is $478K and includes improvements like:

• Improved landscaping and hardscaping
• New green plantings
• Sidewalks
• Built-in sprinkler system
• Improved LED lighting

Detours begin June 3

Crews will start construction on Monday, June 3—shutting down Old Shell Road between LeFevre Street and Union Avenue for about three months. Posted detour signs will take you up Sage Ave to Dauphin St and back down Florida.

City officials say the work should take around three months, opening the road just in time for the back-to-school commute.

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