The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has almost wrapped up construction on the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge with expected completion by this summer.

The $52 million project is designed to reduce congestion to Alabama’s beaches and improve safety for residents and visitors.

The bridge structure and steel girders are 100% complete, while superstructure work is currently at 95% and roadway work is at 90% completion.

Subcontractors are now scheduled to install the protective concrete barrier wall on the bridge, while another crew prepares to apply the final coat of paint to the steel girders, which will complete the remaining superstructure tasks. Crews are also preparing to begin final paving on the south side of the bridge along SR-180 (Canal Road) and will soon shift traffic into its final configuration.

The bridge decks were finished in December 2025, marking one of the final steps in the bridge construction.

When finished, the new bridge and the existing Beach Express Bridge will each provide two lanes of traffic. These improvements will double the number of travel lanes across the Intracoastal Waterway along the Baldwin County coast — meaning more capacity and less delay.

The bridge project is paired with a new connector road to SR-161, creating a new route to help traffic move more efficiently to and from the island. Work continues on the connector project as right-of-way has been cleared from CR-4 to the first low-level bridge site and utility relocation and roadway construction are ongoing.

In addition, ALDOT will widen a portion of SR-180 from Beaver Creek to the current toll-free Beach Express Bridge. All projects remain on schedule for completion by summer 2026.

Another upcoming project for the island cities is improvements to Gulf Shores’ W. C. Holmes Bridge. Following completion of the new pedestrian bridge and Highway 59 widening, the city will add a third southbound lane, creating six total lanes to further improve traffic flow.

Once complete, these combined projects are set to reduce congestion on State Highway 59, State Highway 161 and State Route 180; improve access for emergency responders; enhance hurricane evacuation capacity; and support continued economic growth in Coastal Alabama

ALDOT encourages motorists to remain alert for periodic traffic shifts as final paving and barrier installation takes place throughout the construction of these projects. For latest updates visit ALDOTNews.com.