ALDOT nears final steps of $52M Intracoastal Waterway Bridge
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The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) continues to advance construction of the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge in Baldwin County.
The $52 million project hopes to provide another way to reduce congestion for drivers going to Alabama’s beaches and improve safety for residents and visitors. The bridge project is paired with a new connector road to SR-161, creating a major new route to help traffic move more efficiently to and from the island.
The bridge decks were completed in December 2025, marking one of the final steps in the new bridge construction. Here’s a look at ALDOT’s progress:
- Bridge substructure: 100% complete
- Steel girders: 100% complete
- Superstructure work: 95% complete
- Roadway work: 90% complete
When finished, the new bridge and the existing Beach Express Bridge will each provide two lanes of traffic, doubling capacity for Beach Express users. These improvements will double the number of travel lanes across the Intracoastal Waterway along the Baldwin County coast.
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.
Future projects
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.
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.
Once complete, these combined projects will:
- Reduce congestion on State Highway 59, State Highway 161 and State Route 180
- Improve access for emergency responders
- Enhance hurricane evacuation capacity
- Support continued economic growth in Coastal Alabama
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