This year brought several long-awaited announcements to the island, including the go-ahead to construct a toll-free bridge in Orange Beach, a beach renourishment project, a new pedestrian bridge across the canal in Gulf Shores, the demolition of the abandoned Bama Bayou behind The Wharf and the expansion of the oyster recycling program.
While a lot more happened along the Alabama Gulf Coast in 2023, here are the five storylines Gulf Coast Media deemed the most important and impactful.

Toll-free bridge

In August, the Alabama Supreme Court unanimously decided to allow the construction of a new toll-free Intracoastal Waterway Bridge in Orange Beach to proceed, ending a prolonged battle between the island's two cities.

In October 2022, Gov. Kay Ivey awarded a contract to construct the bridge, intended to alleviate traffic conditions on Highway 59, support access to emergency services and enhance safety for evacuations during storms or emergencies. Later that month, the Baldwin County Bridge Company filed a lawsuit to stop the construction, which had already begun with land clearance.

Mayors from both cities, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, made their cases throughout the past year. Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft argued for the bridge, emphasizing increased safety for island residents and visitors during storms.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon suggested adding more lanes and toll booths to the existing bridge in Orange Beach as his preferred solution to traffic problems over the Alabama Department of Transportation's plan to build the new two-lane bridge to the west.

The new bridge is positioned between the two existing ones, as Gulf Shores extends Waterway East Boulevard north of the Intracoastal to link with the planned road to the new bridge.

Beach renourishment project
In November, a massive beach renourishment project for Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Gulf State Park officially commenced, involving a $17 million investment to add to and enhance shorelines, dunes and turtle protections.

Contractors began mobilizing equipment on Oct. 20 and are projected to complete the Gulf Shores portion in January before moving on to Gulf State Park, Orange Beach and Perdido Key.

The project crews will use two dredging vessels to distribute approximately 18,500 cubic yards of sand daily. Patrons can still access beach areas outside the work zone, and completed restoration areas and ramps will provide shoreline access over the pipes.

Gulf Shores pedestrian bridge
A new pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway is also in the works, with the announcement in July that the 14-foot-wide bridge will accommodate both walkers and bicyclists.

Elevators on each side of the bridge will be wide enough for bicycles and emergency personnel to travel with their equipment if necessary.

As a new third southbound lane is added to Highway 59, pedestrian access will be eliminated on the W.C. Holmes Bridge, making the new Waterway Village Pedestrian Bridge a necessity.
The new bridge will connect the north and south sides of the Waterway District through newly constructed pedestrian pathways spanning from the new Medical Village area to East 20th Avenue.

Residents of the Gulf Pines neighborhood voiced concerns during an informational meeting with Craft over the plan to reroute traffic through the neighborhood during construction. The plan is to have traffic routed around the neighborhood to Dolphin Avenue once construction is completed.

Expansion of oyster recycling program
In November, the Alabama Coastal Foundation received a $5 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support oyster restoration, shell recycling and community engagement along the Gulf of Mexico.

The foundation's portion of the grant will go toward expanding the shell recycling program, aiding in growing local restaurant participation, funding a cultch deployment next August and supporting a peer-to-peer learning network with similar organizations along the Gulf Coast.

Since its inception in 2016, the program has recycled over 22 million oyster shells, collecting them from participating restaurants, cleaning and returning them to the water to filter the water and provide a home for new oysters.

Demolition of Bama Bayou
After sitting abandoned for over five years, the long-awaited demolition of Bama Bayou, the unfinished set of buildings near The Wharf in Orange Beach, commenced.

In August 2022, The Wharf announced owner Art Favre purchased the property formerly known as Bama Bayou, intending to transform it into The Wharf Landing.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon announced the demolition on Facebook, which officially began on Aug. 10 and is expected to be completed in early 2024.

Specific details about The Wharf Landing have not been announced yet, but Jason Clabo, general manager, said meetings are being held with developers regarding several ideas for the property, and the city is partnering with The Wharf to carry out the demolition.