Hurricane Ida threat reignites third bridge debate

By Melanie LeCroy / melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 9/8/21

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft ended the City Council’s Special Meeting Aug. 31 by expressing his concerns regarding the evacuation of residents and visitors in an emergency.

As Hurricane …

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Hurricane Ida threat reignites third bridge debate

Posted

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft ended the City Council’s Special Meeting Aug. 31 by expressing his concerns regarding the evacuation of residents and visitors in an emergency.

As Hurricane Ida organized and formed into a catastrophic hurricane, Craft and Emergency Management Coordinator Brandan Franklin had a conversation about the city’s emergency status and how challenging it will be to evacuate the number of people that are in town.

According to the 2020 federal census, Gulf Shores has a population of 15,014 an increase of 5,237 from the 2010 census. Thousands of visitors are also on the island each week.

“This is two storms we have had, Fred and now Ida, that we have been able to look at both of them trying to determine if this were a category three or greater storm headed directly at us, when can we reasonable get out of here on two bridges,” Craft continued.  “It really reenforces overwhelmingly if you sit in this chair and you try to decide how do we get people out of here safely that third bridge is absolutely a requirement. Otherwise, I don’t think we can get out of here.”

Councilmember Gary Sinak spoke up in agreement, “I have to agree with you. It is a must.”

One of the concerns raised by Councilmember Steve Jones was the vulnerability of the two bridges on the island to barge strikes. Several years ago, a barge struck the Orange Beach Toll Bridge and it had to be closed.

“Let’s take any type of politics out of the equation,” Jones said. “We are at a tremendous risk of having access to this island cut off not only in Orange Beach but Gulf Shores. That third bridge is a must because it is a span that cannot be barge damaged.”

The need for more roads leading off the island has grown in recent years as both the resident population and tourism has increased.

The planning of those bridges has become contentious in recent months as Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon pushed for expansion of the Beach Express toll bridge despite a decade-long plan by the Alabama Department of Transportation to build a toll-free bridge connecting the Baldwin Beach Express to Canal Road East in Gulf Shores.

Plans for the toll-free route were put on hold in July after Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Director John Cooper agreed to a three-month negotiating period with the Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC), and the Alabama Department of Transportation suspended the process to take bids on the new Waterway Bridge that were to open July 31.

Craft said the Council is aware of the challenges and is continuing to prepare their case for a presentation to the state, but it would not be done through Facebook or social media.

“We have a bridge that is designed and budgeted, it’s in the five-year plan, we have the money, we have permits from everybody we need, the right of way has been acquired. Hard to believe we are here and considering not taking advantage of it. It is unacceptable,” Craft continued. “I didn’t plan on doing that, but it has just been weighing on me. The most important thing in this city right now, is that we continue to get prepared for whatever happens this year.”