Why one bridge to the beach is set to become toll free + Alabama’s future plans for beach traffic

Access to the Foley Beach Express Bridge is about to be free.

Alabama is trying to help ease some of the frustrations that come with a trip down to the beach by cutting toll costs from the Foley Beach Express Bridge. It will open up another path for beachgoers looking to avoid Alabama State Route 59 which is often packed with cars.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the state would be purchasing the Foley Beach Express Bridge with plans to remove tolls sometime in May.

“Alabama’s Gulf Coast continues to experience record growth and success, and I am proud we are making needed infrastructure improvements in the area that will help alleviate traffic congestion for Alabamians and those visiting our beaches.”

~ Gov. Kay Ivey

The entire route from Interstate 10 will become a state highway to be named State Route 161.

State paying $60M to purchase bridge

The exact timeline for the sale of the bridge and future projects is still not finalized but the state did release some details on the sale. Here’s what you need to know:

• $57 million to Baldwin County Bridge Company for the bridge
• $3 million to the City of Orange Beach for local road improvements
• Commitment to pursuing expansion of Canal Road to five lanes
• Intersection improvement at the State Route 161/180 intersection

The state hopes the sale will finalize in May. Tolling will stop at noon the day the sale closes.

Baldwin County Bridge Company will not open new accounts or modify existing accounts starting April 30. Current account holders can still add funds to their existing accounts until a few days prior to closing.

Refunds of any remaining account balances will begin in June. Balances on Unlimited Pass accounts will be refunded based on the number of days remaining on the account. Customers can expect to receive their refund by June 30.

What happens next?

The state already has plans in place to build a new bridge near the coast, called the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge which is expected to be completed in 2026. The Beach Express Bridge will play a role in that project once it is completed.

After the purchase is finalized, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will operate the Beach Express Bridge toll free, initially carrying two-way traffic. Once the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge is completed, the Beach Express Bridge will be converted to carry northbound traffic only and the new ALDOT bridge will carry southbound traffic.

Do you think its a good idea to remove the tolls on the Beach Express Bridge? Let us know on social media by tagging The Bama Buzz on  Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.