The Mayor of Gulf Shores, Robert Craft, provided a public statement today concerning the ruling from the court:

Statement from Mayor Robert Craft on Supreme Court ruling to

overturn injunction halting construction on ALDOT’s Waterway Bridge

August 25, 2023

This is a great day for our residents and the millions of visitors to Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Today’s Supreme Court decision means that the new, free bridge over the Intracoastal

Waterway will be built. We have said all along that the Waterways Bridge will clearly

serve the public’s interest and improve the safety and welfare of residents and visitors in

our local communities. Our support for this critical project never wavered and our

resolve to fight to make it a reality never weakened. When constructed, the Waterways

Bridge will immediately improve traffic conditions on State Highway 59, provide an

additional evacuation route off the island, and create a foundation of new transportation

infrastructure to help accommodate the continued growth and success of Alabama’s

beaches and state-wide economy. I applaud the leadership of the Supreme Court and

their clear reading of state and federal law in allowing this vital project to move forward

so that we can make our communities safer.

Key Points from the Supreme Court decision:

• Not a single Supreme Court Justice voted to uphold the injunction which stopped

construction on the Waterways Bridge.

• Baldwin County Bridge Company’s “bad faith” argument is void and ordered to be

dismissed.

• It is undisputed that BCBC has been aware that ALDOT was making plans to

build a third bridge since at least 2015.

• ALDOT Director Cooper was “wrongfully enjoined” from continuing construction

on the third bridge. In fact, he had the right all along to do what he was enjoined

from doing.

• Construction on the Waterways Bridge is allowed to resume.