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6 • December 15-31, 2020 Nation
THETRUCKER.COM
Proposed I-10 bridge spanning Alabama’s Mobile River, Mobile Bay back on table
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOBILE, Ala. — The idea of constructing
a new bridge to span the Mobile River is
back on the table on Alabama’s coast, where
opposition to tolls killed the $2 billion project
last year.
The Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning
Organization has asked the state transportation
agency for an update on plans, WPMI-
TV reported.
Commissioner Joe Davis, a member of
the organization, said the need for the bridge
has never gone away, and it was time to talk
options again. Opposition to tolls that could
have been as high as $6 killed the project previously.
“I’m not opposed to a toll as long as the
locals have a free option, and that was the
crowning blow that killed the project with the
eastern shore MPO about a year ago, was that
everything was going to be tolled,” said Davis.
The proposed Interstate 10 bridge across
the Mobile River and Mobile Bay would have
spanned about 10 miles (16 kilometers) and
soared hundreds of feet above the water near
downtown. Fairhope City Council President
Jack Burrell says talking about the project
with state engineers was a positive step.
“I believe they have a lot of time and
effort invested in this. I have to believe
that they want it to move forward and they
know that we need it. I’m hoping that, in
the very near future, that we can get together
and maybe get it on the visionary plan,”
said Burrell.
Transportation officials spent about $60
million on the project, planning a bridge
and purchasing land, before the state pulled
the plug last year because of opposition to
tolls. Proponents say the bridge is needed to
ease congestion and improve safety on I-10
around Mobile. 8
DRIVE
WITH PRIDE
iStock Photo
Constructing a new 10-mile-long bridge spanning the Mobile River and Mobile Bay in Mobile,
Alabama, would ease traffic congestion and improve safety, proponents say.
Love’s expands contactless payment options
to reduce risk of COVID-19 exposure
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES
OKLAHOMA CITY — To help protect
customers and staff from the risk of exposure
to COVID-19, Love’s Travel Stops across
the country are offering expanded options for
contact-free payment for both inside and outside
transactions.
“With the holiday driving season upon
us, we want our customers to know about the
increased amount of options they have when
paying for fuel and other items like food,
drinks and snacks,” said Ginny Webb, Love’s
chief information officer and vice president
of technology. “Being able to purchase items
quickly and safely is very important to our
customers and we are pleased to be able to
offer these contactless options.”
Mobile and contactless technology helps
limit COVID-19 exposure and offers more
convenience for the customer, and Love’s
remains committed to ongoing enhancements
of security features. Here are the options customers
can use at Love’s:
• Apply Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay.
• Tap-and-go credit cards, such as Visa,
Mastercard, American Express or Discover.
• New smart terminals that, combined
with Love’s credit processing software, cut
checkout time in half.
To fill up their tanks, professional drivers
can use Love’s Mobile Pay on the Love’s
Connect app to answer prompts, pay for fuel
and receive contactless, digital receipts using
their mobile phones. In addition, the
app’s mobile receipts feature provides access
to contactless receipts from all transactions
made by swiping or scanning their My Love
Rewards card.
Contactless transactions inside Love’s
locations have more than doubled in the last
year. Four-wheel customers using contactless
options to pay at the pump have increased by
more than five times in 2020. 8
Courtesy: Love’s Travel Stops
Using tap-and-go credit cards is one way
customers can take advantage of contactless
payment options at Love’s Travel Stops
across the nation.