Foley moving forward with James Road extension to help with beach travel

Foley is moving forward with plans to add a new north-south route that will link U.S. 98 with Gulf Shores.

The plan is in partnership with the Baldwin County Commission and the city of Gulf Shores. Their goal is to provide an alternative passage to Highway 59 when driving to Gulf Shores, relieving some congestion for those traveling through the area to the beach and for local traffic.

“Ultimately, when we’re able to open up North Pecan then you’ll be able to get on to Gateway and go all the way to the Baldwin Beach Express. Now it’s not going to be an expressway. It’s not even going to be a high-speed road. It’d be a lot of stop signs and red lights, but it is another connectivity effort that we’re doing with the county and with local people to give our people an alternative and a way to stay off 59 and the Beach Express.”

Ralph Hellmich, Foley mayor

The Foley City Council approved the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation proposal to continue developing roadway plans needed to extend James Road south from Brinks Willis Road to Gulf Shores.

Hellmich said the work being done will plan to save as many trees as possible along the path, including moving the original path to protect a row of oak trees.

The city is also planning to extend the connection further north with North Pecan Street.

James Road extension

The project will extend James Road south from Brinks Willis Road, across Keller Road to Gulf Shores where it is scheduled to link with a new road to be constructed near the Rocky Road Loop.

“Gulf Shores did a mile. The county’s doing a mile, we’re doing a mile roughly. We’re working very closely with the county and Gulf Shores to align it the best we can, to impact as little as possible on either wetlands or people’s properties.”

The James Road extension is part of the “30-Cubed” program approved by the Baldwin County Commission.

The commission approved $30 million to be spent on joint projects with Baldwin County municipalities by 2030. The cities and towns will provide the same amount of funding to take part in projects.

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