Road conditions: Delays on Foley Beach Express bridge, Gulf Shores' W.C. Holmes Bridge closed due to snow, winter weather

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GULF SHORES – The W.C. Holmes Bridge has been closed to north and southbound traffic due to hazardous conditions brought on by the winter storm.

There will be a public announcement from the city once it’s back open. Emergency traffic was allowed on one lane going north and one open south but as of 12:52 p.m. all access to the bridge had been closed off.

As of 3 p.m., the Foley Beach Express bridge at The Wharf in Orange Beach remains open, but motorists should expect delays as officers are only slowing letting vehicle cross.

However, the public is being asked to stay home as conditions continue to deteriorate with snow still falling across Baldwin Conuty.

As of noon on Jan. 21, all roads and bridges in Baldwin County should be considered impassable until further notice, according to Jessica Waters, public information officer for Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency.

“Members of the general public are advised to suspend or delay all travel. Only emergency vehicles should attempt to travel on county roads and bridges during this time to ensure public safety and to allow crews to respond to weather-related hazards effectively,” she said. "The Baldwin County Highway Department is actively monitoring road conditions and will provide updates as they become available. An announcement will be made when this Impassable Travel Advisory is lifted.”

Foley authorities reported that police and fire vehicles answering calls Tuesday were experiencing "very difficult driving conditions on local roads," the city's marketing and communications manager, Guy Busby, said at 2 p.m. Drivers are asked to stay off the roads if at all possible.

“Please stay off the roads. There are way too many sightseers. It is not safe. Conditions are reaching critical level where emergency vehicles will not be able to safely respond and will have to stop responding at some point soon. If you are out and about, please head home for the night for your safety and the safety of first responders,” the City of Orange Beach wrote in a Facebook post.

Here is an update on the conditions of major roadways, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation as of 3:30 p.m.

BALDWIN COUNTY:

South Mobile Street near Fairhope Ave in Fairhope is iced over and currently closed. 

Interstate 10 eastbound at the exit 44 on ramp is iced over at this time.

S. 90 / U.S. 98 near the Tensaw River Bridge is iced over at this time.

Baldwin County 24 near U.S. 98 is iced over at this time.

Baldwin County 24 near Alabama 181 is iced over at this time.

Alabama 59 between Stockton and Interstate 65 is iced over at this time.

MOBILE COUNTY:

All county-maintained roadways and bridges are considered impassable.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY:

Alabama 21 between Fountain Prison and Holman Prison is iced over at this time.

U.S. 31 between the 80-81 mile markers is iced over at this time.