General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge

The General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge is a road crossing with twin parallel steel arches that stretch nearly six miles across the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in Alabama. Concrete roadways connect the arches to lower viaducts at both ends of the span.

The crossing opened between 1978 and 1980 and honors Walter K. Wilson, a Chief of Engineers with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It replaced older ferry links and earlier sections along this route.

The red warning lights and the curved arches inspired locals to nickname the crossing the Dolly Parton Bridge. Drivers on Interstate 65 see the twin arcs rising against the sky day and night.

The crossing carries four lanes and connects Mobile to northern destinations along Interstate 65. Heavy traffic can occur during peak travel times and maintenance work.

A truck accident in 2014 caused extreme heat damage to the concrete deck and required several months of partial closure for repairs. The incident showed how sensitive modern concrete structures can be to high temperatures.

Location: Alabama

Inception: 1980

Official opening: 1980

Made from material: concrete

GPS coordinates: 30.91417,-87.96361

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27