ORANGE BEACH — The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is seeking out public comment surrounding lane additions to Canal Road due to the new Waterway Bridge currently under construction.

Comments can be submitted via mail, email, phone call or online before Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.dot.state.al.us/news/2025/opmSTPAA0180(508).html.

A public input event was held Sept. 23 at the Orange Beach Event Center, where those interested in learning more on the projects could speak with ALDOT staff members.

The event was informal with no official presentation; attendees came and went as they pleased. Several tables were set up containing the same aerial maps of projects, and each table had at least one ALDOT staff member.

Almost 50 people arrived before the event officially began at 5 p.m. James Gordon, ALDOT communications director, estimated a total of 200 attendees passed through the two-hour event.

Though the event was geared toward information on the lane additions to Canal Road, which will be located between the new roundabout and The Wharf, many residents in attendance sought confirmation on specifics surrounding the new bridge and changes to the flow of traffic.

The new Waterway Bridge will be for southbound traffic only while the current Foley Beach Express Bridge will become a northbound-only bridge once the new bridge opens. The southbound bridge will connect to Canal Road via the newly constructed roundabout.

Gordon said this bridge is set to open in late summer or early fall next year.

A new median will be added to the intersection of Canal Road and the Foley Beach Express, allowing traffic that will be turning right, coming west from Orange Beach, to continue moving and not yield to oncoming traffic. An additional right turn lane is to be added.

For traffic turning left onto the Foley Beach Express, coming from Gulf Shores, a traffic light will be active. Drivers making a left turn will merge with the flow of traffic created by the two right-turn lanes.

Simulations of the projected traffic flow can be found at the ALDOT website mentioned above.