If you have been near The Wharf in Orange Beach recently you may have noticed a lot of construction just across the Intracoastal Waterway. Construction of The Launch at ICW is moving along and ahead of schedule according to Baldwin County Engineer Joey Nunnally.

On June 16, 2021, Gov. Kay Ivey and several state and local leaders were in Orange Beach for the groundbreaking of The Launch at ICW. The project is being funded by the state and county from GOMESA funds: $10.1 million from the state and $6.9 million from Baldwin County.

The 47-acre property has over 1,700 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway just west of the toll bridge. The first phase of the project includes:

• Six boat launches
• 200 lighted boat and trailer parking spaces
• 84 lighted passenger car spaces
• Six covered pavilions with picnic table seating
• One grand pavilion
• Over a half mile of concrete sidewalks and boardwalks throughout the launch and pavilion areas

Future phases will include eight restrooms, walking trails, wooden bridges and fishing piers. The site includes areas for future development as well.

Nunnally said the project is moving along and should be ready for opening in early February barring any delays from weather, supply chain or another global pandemic. The original opening was estimated to be Memorial Day weekend.

“The ramps are completely poured. A lot of the piling is in and the decking is going to start being placed this week. The dredging in the basin is almost complete. All of the lighting and electrical work should be starting soon,” Nunnally said.

After dredging is complete, Nunnally said the sand will be leveled out and some will be used to make the pad for the bathrooms and grand pavilion. Most of the grading of the parking lot has also been completed and is awaiting pavement.

In May 2018, the county commission unanimously approved signing a letter of intent to push forward the plan to develop the 47-acre site. In November 2019, the boat launch project was one of 16 projects selected to receive GOMESA funds. In January 2020, local, county and state officials gathered at the site to officially kick off the project, but it ran into delays. In May 2021, the Baldwin County Commission approved a bid for $9.39 million from McElhenney Construction of Theodore.