Hey, Decatur commuters, help is on the way.

It won’t happen any time soon, but a third Tennessee River bridge to serve Decatur is on the horizon.

Alabama Department of Transportation officials said the agency will soon begin a corridor study for alignment options for a new Tennessee River crossing. The project aims to relieve congestion on the Capt. William J. Hudson “Steamboat Bill” Memorial Bridges and improve travel along the Alabama Highway 20 and U.S. 31 corridors in Decatur.

“A previous feasibility study indicated there are viable options for another Tennessee River crossing,” ALDOT North Region spokesman Seth Burkett said. “We’re now moving to evaluate those options in greater detail, identify the preferred route, and complete the engineering and environmental work required before the project can move closer to construction.”

ALDOT plans to issue a public notice in August requesting proposals from engineering firms to perform the corridor study.

Officials expect to name a consultant and begin the study before the end of the year. The corridor study is expected to take approximately two to three years.

The study will be funded in part by the $3 million federal Community Project Funding grant secured by U.S. Rep. Dale Strong. ALDOT expects to supplement the grant with additional federal and state transportation funds needed to complete the work.

The consultant selection process will establish the final scope of work and provide a detailed cost estimate for the corridor study.

“As North Alabama continues to grow, the need for safer, more efficient infrastructure has never been greater,” Strong (R-Huntsville) said. “Advancing this study is an important step toward building an additional bridge across the Tennessee River and delivering long-term relief for families, commuters, and businesses.”

Federal requirements call for detailed engineering, traffic and environmental analyses before a project of this size can move forward.

The consultant will evaluate the routes identified during the feasibility study, compare their benefits and impacts, gather public input, and recommend the route that best improves traffic, minimizes environmental impacts and makes the best use of taxpayer dollars.

The corridor study will also coordinate with federal and state agencies and prepare the documentation to meet national Environmental Policy Act requirements.

Once complete, ALDOT and local officials said they will have a preferred bridge alignment and a preliminary construction estimate.