The need for more roads leading off the island that is home to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has grown in recent years as both the resident population and tourism has increased.
Plans have been made by the state as well as the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, to help ease the congestion. Planning became contentious earlier this year when Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon pushed for expansion of the Beach Express toll bridge despite a decadelong 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 Gov. 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. The state has since agreed to give the bridge company more time to develop its plan.