Despite a decline in Beach Express Toll Bridge traffic over the last four months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year, the overall traffic for the year surpassed that of 2022 according to reports.

Gulf Coast Media highlighted the toll increase in August 2023, reporting that the Beach Express Bridge had raised toll rates from $2.75 to $5. The Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC) and Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon attributed the increase to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).

In a formal statement, BCBC outlined its reasoning behind the adjusted toll rates, citing ALDOT Director John Cooper's refusal to consider their proposal for a new span. Consequently, BCBC raised toll rates on the Beach Express Bridge starting in late August of 2023, with cash and credit card tolls increasing from $2.75 to $5. Despite the toll hike, traffic totals for September, October, November and December were lower than in 2022, amounting to 1.52 million cars during that period compared to 1.69 million in the previous year.

Orange Beach's share from the toll increased slightly from $1.67 million in 2022 to $1.7 million in 2023. However, the city's December 2023 toll revenue was the lowest since December 2019 according to reports.

Overall, 5.67 million cars passed through the toll in 2023, slightly more than the 5.58 million in 2022. However, December 2023 saw a notable decrease in traffic compared to the previous year, with only 327,311 cars passing through, the lowest in five years.

BCBC President and CEO of American Roads Neal Belitsky attributed the toll increase to ALDOT's refusal to accept the company's offer to build a second span. The company had previously obtained a stop-work order halting construction on a new bridge, alleging bad faith negotiations by Cooper.

Orange Beach collects a flat rate of $0.30 per car, regardless of toll increases. However, toll increases impacted the revenue collected by the city, which fell short of the 2022 total by $178,153 through October 2023.

While cash and debit tolls rose to $5, electronic rates for prepaid account holders, including many local residents, increased by $0.20 to an average of $2.22. However, the discounted electronic rate for Orange Beach residents remained at $1.

BCBC would be obligated to build a second span if certain traffic thresholds are met, including reaching two million cars in June, July and August of any year, and an annual total of six million or more.