Bama Coast Cruisin’ At The Wharf — What do you think about walkable cities? (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)

Earlier this year, the city of Gulf Shores announced their plans to utilize funds from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) federal grant program to build a pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. Keep reading to learn more about the project.

Over the Intracoastal Waterway

Pedestrian Bridge Gulf Shores — Renderings of what the bridge will look like. (ALDOT)

Under the US Department of Transportation’s BUILD Grant Program, the city of Gulf Shores was awarded $14.4M to help better the transportation options for visitors and residents. Now, they’re using that grant funding to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, while also promoting a more sustainable & healthy community.

City officials plan to use this grant to build a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge that crosses the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores. Their goal is to make the city more walkable and more time-efficient for travelers, a crucial issue to Mayor Craft.

“If you were coming from the north to Gulf Shores today and saw ALDOT working on one of the lanes of our two lanes coming south you know what the problem is. I was coming from Fairhope and it took me an hour to get from County Road 10 over the bridge to get here. I was worried I wasn’t going to make it.”
Robert Craft, mayor, The City of Gulf Shores

Not only will there be a new pedestrian bridge, but improvements on County Road 6 and Highway 59.

What can you expect?

Rendering From The Sky Of The Waterway — A view from the sky. (Gulf Shores)

Once complete, the new pedestrian bridge will offer new walkable transportation through the Waterway Village over the Intracoastal Waterway, connecting the North and South sides. Plus, it’ll offer access to Jack Edwards National Airport and the Gulf Shores Business and Aviation Park.

That’s not all—the pedestrian bridge is just one of the many projects in the city’s 10-year capital plan—check them out:

County Road 6 Improvements—$4.6 million to widen County Road 6 West.

“This grant is focused on adding a third lane south from Coastal Gateway Boulevard which was County Road 8 all the way to Fort Morgan Road. And adding additional improvements as we work our way south.”
Robert Craft, mayor, The City of Gulf Shores

Hwy. 59 Improvements—$3.4 million for a road to South Baldwin’s freestanding emergency room and increased capacity along State HWY 59 with an improved evacuation route.

It’s going to take some time, though. The projects are projected to include several phases, including designing and planning. Construction will begin by August 2022 with the target completion of all three projects of summer 2026.

BONUS: 7 can’t-miss concerts on the Gulf Coast this spring

Want more like this? Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter + keep up with us on social media!