Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The final stages of the East Canal Road expansion project are underway. The initial process, known as milling, will start this evening, Thursday, at 6 p.m., beginning at Wilson Boulevard, adjacent to the Recreation Center, and extending westward toward the intersection at State Highway 161 by Doc’s. Completion of this phase is anticipated by 5 a.m. the following morning. During this time, drivers should be prepared for periodic lane closures and shifts, potentially leading to delays.

Following the milling, paving operations are slated to commence at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 25th. The paving will initiate at the intersection with Highway 161 and proceed eastward. The project will include overnight resurfacing work between Highway 161 and the roundabout, necessitating intermittent lane closures. Additionally, paving activities east of the roundabout during daytime hours are expected to minimally impact traffic flow. The paving process is estimated to last between two to three days, contingent upon weather conditions, and will include the application of temporary road markings.

This phase represents the culmination of the East Canal Road widening initiative, a project funded by the RESTORE grant, stretching from Highway 161 to Wilson Boulevard, which began in September 2022. The project has successfully widened approximately 1.4 miles of East Canal Road to incorporate three lanes, featuring a central turning lane. Furthermore, enhancements include the construction of a roundabout and a 10-foot multimodal path along the road's north side, spanning from State Highway 161 to Wilson Boulevard.

Thompson Engineering has been appointed as the project engineer, with John G. Walton Construction Company, Inc. securing the construction contract valued at $7.36 million. Funding for the majority of the project is sourced from the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) following the BP oil spill, with the RESTORE grant contributing $5.9 million towards the project costs.