For over five years, the City has been planning and designing improvements that will transform St. Louis Street. This project will include reconstruction of the roadbed and street infrastructure, new landscaping, improved sidewalks and crossings, new water lines, sewer repair, and stormwater improvements along 17 blocks of St Louis Street from Water Street to Broad Street. This initiative supports broad objectives for fostering business development and economic revitalization opportunities in the surrounding area. It has been funded from various sources including the RESTORE Act, Downtown TIF program, stormwater fees, the City’s general fund and other sources.
Project News
What the project will address
When complete, St. Louis Street will feature:
- 77 trees (47 are new)
- 1,335 shrubs/perennials
- 1,380 groundcover plants
New trees have been selected with a right tree, right place approach so that trees are healthy, look great, support public safety, are low maintenance, and reduce infrastructure conflicts.

Existing Deficiencies

Solution

The Downtown Street Optimization Project is the implementation of the analysis and plan developed by Jeff Speck and Nelson\Nygaard and Associates for the Downtown Mobile Alliance. The project will optimize the downtown streets (inside the Hank Aaron Loop) for efficiency while making them more pedestrian/bicycle friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
Specifically, the upcoming phases will involve street resurfacing, restriping, and conversion of over 20 intersections from signals to four-way stops – including five intersections on St. Louis Street. This work is expected to begin in 2025 and will be coordinated with other improvements on St. Louis Street.

Streetscape Design
View before and after images depicting the planned improvements. Click the letters below the map.

A. St. Louis Street at Jefferson Street


B. St. Louis Street between Bayou and Scott


C. St. Louis Street at Washington Street


D. St. Louis Street at Dearborn Street


E. St. Louis Street between Warren and Cedar


F. St. Louis Street between Lawrence and Hamilton


G. St. Louis Street at Franklin Street


H. St. Louis Street between Claiborne and Jackson


I. St. Louis Street and Conception Street


Community Meeting Photos
Timeline
The full construction is expected to take approximately 2.5 years, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2028. Construction will begin at Broad Street and progress toward Water Street, moving sequentially block by block to minimize disruption.
Each of the 17 blocks has its own timeline, with construction occurring in sequence as much as possible. The first four blocks are the most complex due to significant stormwater improvements and are expected to take around six months. Partial lane closures will be used to maintain traffic flow during construction.

Project Information
Timeline: 2022 through 2028
Estimated Cost: $15,500,000
Status: Fully funded
Funding Sources
- Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)
- Capital Improvements Program-Citywide (CIP)
- City Stormwater Fee (SWF)
- General Fund (GFS)
- Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
- Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS)
- Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act)
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
FAQs
1. How will trees be protected during and after construction?
Tree protection is a key part of the construction process. The project includes a comprehensive landscaping plan, and over 50 new street trees will be planted along St. Louis Street. During construction, measures will be taken to protect existing trees where feasible, and new plantings will enhance the street’s long-term character and environmental health.
2. Will existing street improvements be removed?
Where previous improvements have already been made, they will remain in place unless minor modifications are needed to improve safety or align with the overall design.
3. How will Mardi Gras be handled during construction?
The City will coordinate closely with the Mobile Police Department to ensure resident access and public safety during Mardi Gras. Construction is likely to continue during the Mardi Gras season, but special accommodations will be made to support these events.
4. How will the City keep the public informed?
Public communication will include regular press releases, email updates, and a project webpage at mapformobile.org. Mailing lists and multiple communication channels will be used to keep residents, businesses, and visitors informed throughout the project.
5. Which utility partners are involved in the project?
The project involves close coordination with utility partners, including Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS), Spire Gas, and others, all of whom will be involved in relocating or replacing infrastructure as needed. MAWSS is leading the design of new water and wastewater systems and will share costs through a cooperative agreement with the City. Relocating overhead utilities will involve coordination with Alabama Power, Uniti Fiber, Comcast, AT&T, Lumen, and CSpire.
Documents
To be added
Who's involved
This project is being implemented by the City of Mobile with the support of a variety of contractors. The team includes planners, scientists, engineers, landscape architects and construction experts.
Project Lead: City of Mobile Department of Public Works, Programs & Projects Management
Project Manager: Cody Reed, Programs & Project Management
Contact: StLouisStreet@cityofmobile.org
City Contact: Council District 2: Council2@cityofmobile.org
Consultant: Volkert
This project was paid for [in part] with federal funding from the Department of the Treasury under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) and the ALDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Treasury.