Crews will shift traffic on State Route 180 (Canal Road to a newly constructed section of the highway Monday, May 5, as part of the ongoing SR-161 extension and Intracoastal Waterway Bridge project, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The one-day operation will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m., during which a one-lane flagging operation will guide drivers through the transition. The traffic shift will move vehicles onto a portion of the new SR-180 alignment at Canal Road and through part of a newly constructed roundabout.

ALDOT officials said motorists should expect construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway and a concrete barrier wall near the travel lanes. The agency is urging drivers to use caution, watch for flaggers, prepare to stop and follow posted signage. The speed limit in the work zone remains reduced to 35 mph.

The new traffic pattern is a key step in the broader SR-161 extension project, which will serve as the southbound connection to the future Intracoastal Waterway Bridge. The bridge and extension are part of a major regional transportation initiative set to open by summer 2026.

The final alignment of SR-180 will ultimately connect with SR-161 and the new bridge near the last phase of construction. Before that can happen, ALDOT must complete a culvert extension and remaining widening work along SR-180. The bridge is being built roughly 1 mile west of the Foley Beach Express.