Foley is moving ahead with plans to create a new north-south route linking U.S. 98 with Gulf Shores as city leaders continue work on a regional effort aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity.

Foley City Council approved a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation proposal, a key step needed to continue developing roadway plans to extend James Road south from Brinks Willis Road to Gulf Shores.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city is coordinating closely with Baldwin County and the City of Gulf Shores to develop the route, which would span multiple jurisdictions.

“Gulf Shores did a mile. The county’s doing a mile, we're doing a mile roughly,” Hellmich said. “We’re working very closely with the county and Gulf Shores to align it the best we can, to impact as little as possible on either wetlands or people's properties.”

Environmental considerations are central to the planning process, Hellmich said, noting tree preservation has also influenced design decisions.

“We moved it over one time to save a row of oak trees,” Hellmich said. “So we're doing everything we can to make it the least intrusive that we can.”

When completed, the project is expected to provide a continuous connection through Foley to Gulf Shores, offering drivers an alternative to heavily traveled routes such as Ala. 59 and the Baldwin Beach Express, particularly during peak tourism seasons.

“When this is done, this will create connectivity all the way from Highway 98 down to the Gateway Road, County Road 8,” Hellmich said.

City officials are also planning for future expansion north of the current project limits. Hellmich said extending the route could further improve access across Baldwin County.

“Ultimately, when we're able to open up North Pecan then you'll be able to get on to Gateway and go all the way to the Baldwin Beach Express,” he said. “Now it's not going to be an expressway. It's not even going to be a high-speed road. It'd be a lot of stop signs and red lights, but it is another connectivity effort that we're doing with the county and with local people to give our people an alternative and a way to stay off 59 and the Beach Express.”

The James Road extension would run south from Brinks Willis Road, cross Keller Road and continue into Gulf Shores, where it is planned to connect with a new roadway near the Rocky Road Loop.

The project is part of Baldwin County’s 30-Cubed program, which was approved by the Baldwin County Commission. Under the initiative, the county committed $30 million to joint infrastructure projects with municipalities by 2030, with participating cities and towns providing matching funds. Check www.GulfCoastMedia.com to read more projects GCM has reported on for the 30-Cubed program.