Construction on the pedestrian bridge detour project in Gulf Shores is set to begin June 10.

This work will lay the groundwork for the city’s new pedestrian bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterway, which will be bid out later this year, according to the City of Gulf Shores in a post made Monday afternoon.

PROJECT DETAILS

• Traffic flow: New turn lanes will be added at the East 2nd Street and East 22nd Avenue intersection.
• Roadway resurfacing: East 22nd Avenue, East 24th Avenue (between East 2nd Street and East 3rd Street), and E 3rd St (between E 22nd Avenue and East Canal) will be resurfaced.
• Safety: Traffic signals will be installed at the East 2nd Street / East 22nd Avenue and East 3rd Street / East 24th Avenue intersections.
• Pedestrian accessibility: New sidewalks will be constructed along East 22nd Avenue, East 3rd Street and East 24th Avenue.
• Access maintained: While Highway 180 will be closed just past East 3rd Street, a new turnaround will ensure access to businesses and residences on East Canal beyond E 3rd Street. This will be completed as the final phase of this project.

PROJECT TIMELINE

The project is anticipated to take approximately 60-90 days, the city says. Completing this project during the summer will allow for minimal impacts on school traffic.

Work will begin on East 22nd Avenue and East 3rd Street, followed by improvements on E 24th Ave.

After the new traffic lights are operational, the work on East Canal will be completed.

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE UPDATE

Last year, rising costs put the pedestrian bridge project on hold, “but we've remained committed to finding a solution for safe, enjoyable pedestrian access across the Intracoastal Waterway,” the city wrote in the post. “Our community development and engineering departments have worked diligently to explore alternative designs that can deliver the same benefits our community needs while being more fiscally responsible. We're pleased to share that a new, more cost-effective bridge design has been proposed.”

Later this year, the city will re-issue the project for bid. Updates and details of the new design will be provided as they become available.

The W.C. Holmes Bridge is being widened, and that project involves taking the remaining shoulder and pedestrian space. To provide pedestrians a place to cross the ICW, a pedestrian bridge will be built connect WaterWay Village and WaterWay Village to the north, around where Tacky Jacks is on the south side and Lulu’s is on the north side.

“When the Highway 59 widening is complete, pedestrians will lose safe access to the W.C. Holmes Bridge. This new bridge ensures our community stays connected,” the city wrote in the post.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the city's engineering department at (251) 968-2425.

This story was sent out as a GCM Text Alert. To sign up for free, go to www.gulfcoastmedia.com/text and receive breaking news, top stories and local deals and promotions. GCM Text Alerts is made possible by launch partners Original Oyster House and Vallarta Mexican Restaurant.