The 17,814’ long Dauphin Island Bridge was designed under an extremely accelerated schedule for ALDOT after the original bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Frederic in 1979. The replacement bridge was opened to traffic in July 1982 – just 34 months after the hurricane. Since then, the bridge has stood strong without damage during severe tropical weather along the Gulf Coast. The 400’ main span across the Intracoastal Waterway set a new record for precast concrete segmental bridges. The design features twin wall I-shaped piers and an integral riding surface.