The six-lane Baldwin Beach Express II project in northern Baldwin County is one step closer after design upgrades were approved last week.

The Baldwin County Commission approved an engineering services agreement with Volkert Inc. for the project to expand one of the county's most significant transportation corridors. According to a news release, commissioners voted during their meeting last week to move forward with improvements along the northernmost 4.9-mile stretch of the planned extension, which runs from U.S. Highway 31 to Interstate 65.

Baldwin Beach Express II will serve as the northern extension of the existing Baldwin Beach Express, ultimately creating a continuous 25-mile corridor connecting Interstate 10 to Interstate 65. County officials have said the project is intended to improve regional connectivity and accommodate continued growth across Baldwin County, one of the fastest-growing counties in Alabama.

The updated engineering design will bring the project into compliance with current Alabama Department of Transportation and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials standards. Plans call for updated interchange designs at U.S. 31 and I-65, a new diamond-style interchange at Novelis and expansion to six lanes between the Novelis interchange and I-65, the release said. Updated bridge designs and environmental permitting and coordination are also included in the scope of work.

Once completed, the expanded corridor is expected to provide continuous traffic flow, improve regional mobility and strengthen hurricane evacuation routes. The project is also designed to relieve congestion on local roadways and support ongoing economic development, including operations at the Novelis facility in Baldwin County.

County leaders have described the effort as part of a broader strategy to invest in infrastructure that enhances public safety and strengthens transportation networks across the region.

The design update phase is expected to take about 12 months the release said. Right-of-way acquisition is anticipated to begin immediately afterward, with construction projected to start in approximately 24 months.

Officials said additional project updates will be released as design milestones are reached.