Gulf Shores City Council unanimously approved the donation of 26.37 acres of public right of way to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) during the June 28 regular council meeting. The right of way is needed for the construction of the proposed new roadway and bridge from Foley Beach Express to State Highway 180 East.
“It is important that the right of way be continuous from two major arterials for ALDOT to receive federal funds for the funding of the bridge project. This will be a future phase, but they must secure the right of way upfront. It creates the conduit for them to receive federal funds for the bridge construction,” explained City Engineer Marc Acreman.
Gulf Shores has incorporated the proposed roadway and bridge into the Waterway East and Canal Road Realignment RESTORE grant projects and provides three future connections to the city’s planned education campus.
According to Acreman, the bridge is scheduled to open for bids July 30 per ALDOTS schedule of projects. The first phase would be to construct a roadway from County 4 all the way to Canal Road with the bridge included in the first phase.
“This right of way in this project would be built at a later phase but would eventually have a connection going all the way from Foley Beach Express to Canal Road East. It will give a third bridge onto the island and help distribute some of the traffic congestion we are seeing at Foley Beach Express and Highway 59,“ Acreman said.
