By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Former Alabama Department of Transportation Director Ray Bass is retiring after almost 50 years with the department. Bass announced Monday that he will retire June 1. He served as the department's director from 1971 until 1979 and from 1983 until 1987. Several major road projects developed in Alabama when Bass was director. Those projects include the I-10 tunnel in Mobile, the I-459 bypass in Birmingham, the I-565 spur connector in Huntsville and the Tennessee River Bridge in Guntersville. Bass is a 1959 engineering graduate of Auburn Univeristy. He has been the department of transportation's chief engineer since 1995.