After years of construction and much debate, the first section of the new ICW bridge is about to open. Traffic will shift on State Route 180 (Canal Road) in Baldwin County as part of the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge project. A new roundabout and a section of newly built Canal Road will now carry traffic. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is making this change to move drivers closer to the final layout. Crews will be on-site to complete the shift in one day.

The traffic shift is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 5. Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., flaggers will direct one-lane traffic while crews stripe the road and move a concrete barrier. Drivers should expect brief delays.

ALDOT says motorists will see construction vehicles in the area and concrete barriers placed near traffic lanes. They urge drivers to slow down and follow all signs, and protect the workers out on the roadway.

The speed limit in the work zone will remain reduced to 35 miles per hour. Drivers should stay alert and be prepared to stop.

This change is part of the ongoing SR-161 extension project. That extension will link to the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge, which is set to open in summer 2026.

Once the bridge and culvert extension are complete, traffic will shift again. At that time, drivers will use the full new alignment of SR-180 that connects with SR-161 and the new bridge.