GULF SHORES — With new projects continuously being approved by city council and more bids coming in under budget, Gulf Shores officials had many updates to share at the Feb. 12 Winter Showcase put on by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT).

GSOBT Winter Showcase is a free educational series that highlights a variety of local interests, such as history, nature and local artisans. Gulf Shores Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director Grant Brown presented updates concerning the growth of Gulf Shores, roadway expansions and new city buildings.

Other items Brown presented have been covered by Gulf Coast Media, including the upcoming pedestrian bridge, Gulf Shores airport's commercial flights, Laguna Cove's nature park, Gulf Coast Eco Center and the new Gulf Shores High School building.

GROWTH OF GULF SHORES

Brown opened his presentation with quick facts and details on the city's budget and infrastructure. He mentioned an "interesting little bit of tidbit" that when Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft was first elected in 2008, the city's budget was $20 million. The 2025 municipal budget was just approved at $83 million, which "doesn't' include the over $300 million capital projects" the city has underway.

Police and fire departments are "appropriately sized" for the population of residents and visitors in Gulf Shores, Brown said. However, he said the city has had to work with developers and landowners to ensure the city does not overbuild housing projects, specifically north of the Intracoastal Waterway.

"If (the landowners) would build every unit or every lodging or homesite that they are entitled by law to build, our number of dwellings would double," Brown said. "… So, obviously that's a problem; we don't have that much space."

Brown said the "number of dwellings" already in Gulf Shores include houses, apartments and condo units. He encouraged event attendees to think about how many units there would be in the city if that number were doubled.

"We've seen growth," Brown said. "Lots of people want to be in Gulf Shores, lots of people want to visit the coast and the life that allows us to have a very good quality of life as residents."

ROAD EXPANSIONS AND NEW BRIDGE

With city growth inevitably comes increased traffic.

Brown said the city, for some time now, has "been talking about traffic congestion." To alleviate congestion in the roadways, "a number of projects are in the works" to help maintain the flow of traffic through the city, specifically on Highway 59.

As previously reported by GCM, Hwy. 59 is set to have a third lane going southbound into the city from Foley. Brown said construction that is underway north of the intracoastal waterway is "going to stay like that for a while" as the upcoming pedestrian bridge, to be parallel to the W.C. Holmes Bridge, must be completed before a new lane can go across the bridge.

Another project underway to alleviate traffic congestion is the "new state bridge" to be built between the W.C. Holmes Bridge and the Foley Beach Express bridge at The Wharf. Brown said this project has "really united" Craft and Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon.

"One of the benefits of this new bridge is that there are no members in the water, meaning that a barge or boat will not hit anything," Brown said. "The 59 bridge has pilings in the water, which are susceptible to being hit. The Wharf bridge, same thing."

On the Foley Beach Express Bridge, Brown told attendees about the time in 2015 when "a barge hit that bridge on Fourth of July weekend," forcing it to shut down for inspection, which lasted "almost a day and a half." The result was a "traffic nightmare" as cars were redirected to use the bridge in Gulf Shores in one of the busiest times of the year.

Brown said the new bridge, being built by Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), is scheduled to be in operation "next year this time" with the opening planned for January 2026. He then explained the bridge layout and design.

"Eventually, when you're coming south on Foley Beach Express, you'll veer off to the right and then you'll take the road to the new bridge over the canal," Brown said while pointing at an bird's-eye view rendering of the new roads to the bridge, "and then there will be a little traffic circle (south of the intracoastal) where you can go this way to Gulf Shores or this way to Orange Beach."

He also mentioned that this new bridge "is intended to be a southbound-only bridge," while the Foley Beach Express Bridge will be converted into a northbound-only bridge.

"We're not really sure if that's the best way to do this, but the state owns both of those bridges," Brown said, "and that's how we'll move forward. We'll see what happens when that starts working."

NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS

While the police and fire departments for Gulf Shores are well-staffed and working smoothly, Brown said they are both set to receive new infrastructure with a new Justice Center for the Police Department and law enforcement and a new Fire Training Station for the fire department.

Brown said the new Justice Center is set for completion in 2026. It will serve as an upgrade to the current facilities for the municipal courts, police department and jail as the growth of the area led them to "get really outsized."

According to Brown, there are "over 52 sworn police officers" and one detective with Gulf Shores' Police team.

Brown said "we're not leaving the fire department out" of improvements as the department is steadily growing. He said there are currently four 24-hour manned fire stations in Gulf Shores, and the city is "looking to build a fifth on Coastal Gateway" Boulevard.

The previously used fire training station was located at the airport, but as commercial flight are set to take off starting May 21, the fire department will require a new facility.

The new training station will be located "in the woods" off West 36th Avenue near the Gulf Shores Recycling Center.

"They (the firemen) have to learn how to fight fires in high rise condos," Brown said. "So, they're building a training tower, and they're building other infrastructure to be able to make sure that this will be up to speed on their training."

Brown said the city is "very proud of our fire department" and that he hopes no one, resident or visitor, would ever be in a situation where they require the departments presence, but in the event of emergency "they're extremely professional and very well trained."