Gulf Shores is preparing for a busy month with two major events at the Gulf Shores Public Beach. The NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship and the Sand In My Boots Music Festival are both coming to town in May. City officials are making changes to parking and beach access to help with the crowds. According to the City of Gulf Shores, residents and visitors should plan ahead for closures and detours.

On Monday, May 5, the West Gulf Place parking lot will close, along with the resident parking at East Gulf Place. Public parking and public beach access at Gulf Place will close on Monday, May 12. These closures are needed to prepare for event setup.

Starting Thursday, May 13, Highway 59 south of West 1st Avenue and parts of Beach Boulevard will close to all cars and pedestrians. Access to West Beach will be available using Windmill Ridge Road, West 1st Avenue to West 3rd Street, or West 2nd Avenue.

Travelers heading to Orange Beach can still use Gulf State Park, Canal Road, or local streets like East 1st Avenue to East 4th Street. Traffic on East 1st and East 2nd Avenues will switch to one-way-only routes to help manage foot traffic.

Traffic signs and maps will be posted to guide drivers through the new traffic patterns. On Saturday, May 15, another closure will block Highway 182 between West 2nd and West 3rd Streets. City leaders ask everyone to be cautious and patient during these times.

Traffic patterns will return to normal on Tuesday, May 20, after the events wrap up. All beaches and access points at Gulf Place will reopen by 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22.

City officials remind everyone that several parking and beach access spots will stay open. Available locations include Gulf State Park, West 4th Street, West 5th Street, West 6th Street, West 10th Street, West 12th Street, West 13th Street, and Little Lagoon Pass.

For more updates and maps, visit the City of Gulf Shores website at www.gulfshoresal.gov.