This Tuesday, April 21, the Alabama Department of Transportation will shift traffic to the newly constructed Lee Callaway Bridge over Little Lagoon Pass on SR-182. Representatives from ALDOT and the City of Gulf Shores held a celebratory ribbon cutting Monday morning.

The new bridge features pedestrian and bike paths, handrails for safety, and ocean designs on the girders for aesthetic purposes.

In addition to the new bridge, the ALDOT project includes the construction of a new seawall at Little Lagoon Pass. The pass was widened, and the old concrete piles have been replaced by steel sheet pile with concrete fascia. The installation of the seawall is expected to wrap up later this summer.

“We are extremely grateful for all of the hard work that ALDOT and their team have put into the new Lee Callaway Bridge to insure that it’s both safe for pedestrians, but also an attractive addition to our City,” said Public Works Director Mark Acreman.

The former bridge, originally constructed in 1967, had become structurally deficient and had ongoing maintenance concerns. It was closed to traffic in June 2014. Traffic has been routed over an adjacent detour bridge, which will be taken down over the next few weeks.

Scott Bridge Company out of Opelika, Ala., was awarded the construction contract after its $12,169,710.49 was the lowest bid the met project requirements.