The long anticipated pedestrian bridge area is about to begin construction. While the upcoming detours and road closures may temporarily cause some confusion, the final results are meant to create a a more walkable waterfront area on the Intracoastal Waterway. The upcoming pedestrian bridge will allow walking and bicycle traffic for the north and south sides of Gulf Shores.

The corner of Canal Road and East 2nd Street, by Tacky Jacks, will soon see a major change in traffic flow patterns. Due to the upcoming detours the City of Gulf Shores has released a public notice explaining the new routes.

From The City:

𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟬

Construction on the pedestrian bridge detour project is set to begin June 10. This important work lays the groundwork for our new pedestrian bridge, which will be bid out later this year. We understand you may have questions about the project's impact on your daily commute. Here's a breakdown of what to expect.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 (𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗽 below):

 Improved Traffic Flow: New turn lanes will be added at the East 2nd Street and East 22nd Avenue intersection.

 Roadway Enhancements: East 22nd Avenue, East 24th Avenue (between East 2nd Street and East 3rd Street), and E 3rd St (between E 22nd Avenue and East Canal) will be resurfaced.

 Enhanced Safety: Traffic signals will be installed at the East 2nd Street / East 22nd Avenue and East 3rd Street / East 24th Avenue intersections.

 Pedestrian Accessibility: New sidewalks will be constructed along East 22nd Avenue, East 3rd Street, and East 24th Avenue.

 Access Maintained: While Highway 180 will be closed just past East 3rd Street, a new turnaround will ensure access to businesses and residences on East Canal beyond E 3rd Street. This will be completed as the final phase of this project.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:

 The project is anticipated to take approximately 60-90 days. Completing this project during the summer will allow for minimal impacts on school traffic.

 Work will begin on East 22nd Avenue and East 3rd Street., followed by improvements on E 24th Ave.

 After the new traffic lights are operational, the work on East Canal will be completed.

𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲:

We want to keep you updated on the status of the Pedestrian Bridge project. Last year, rising costs put the project on hold, but we've remained committed to finding a solution for safe, enjoyable pedestrian access across the Intracoastal Waterway.

Our community development and engineering departments have worked diligently to explore alternative designs that can deliver the same benefits our community needs while being more fiscally responsible. We're pleased to share that a new, more cost-effective bridge design has been proposed.

Later this year, the City will re-issue the project for bid, seeking a partner to bring this enhanced design to fruition. The City will maintain transparency throughout the bidding process, providing updates and sharing details of the new design as they become available.

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 When the Highway 59 widening is complete, pedestrians will lose safe access to the W.C. Holmes Bridge. This new bridge ensures our community stays connected.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴:

We appreciate your patience as we work to enhance our community's infrastructure. If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the City's engineering department at 251-968-2425.