Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores is looking to use Restore Act money awarded in 2018 for two roadway projects in the city. One is to reroute Canal Road East south of the Gulf Pines neighborhood now that the pedestrian bridge project is underway at the intersection of Canal Road East and East Second Street The second is to connect the Waterway East Boulevard project to the Foley Beach Express.

The city council will discuss the items at a work session on Oct. 6 in council chambers at city hall at 4 p.m.

Overall, the projects will cost $21.7 million of the original $41.8 million awarded through Restore. The first part of this project will be awarding $728,990 to Jade Consulting for the design work on the new roadways.

“One component of the project has been to secure right-of-way to reroute Canal Road to the south of the Gulf Pines neighborhood,” a memo from Assistant City Administrator Lee Jones states. “The City is awaiting approval from the National Park Service for a land swap between DCNR and the city of Gulf Shores that would accommodate the realigned Canal Road. Once the ROW is secured, the city and ALDOT will begin design for the new roadway.”

The new roadway will cut across a portion of Gulf State Park and intersect with East Second Street south of the neighborhood and north of the city schools complex.

On the pedestrian bridge, it was recently announced the city will receive a Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act grant or GOMESA money from oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico to build pedestrian plazas on the north and south sides of the Intracoastal Waterway. The bridge is currently under construction.

See related story: Waterway Village Getting Two New Public Plazas Thanks to State Grant

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• Donating $10,000 to local charities at $2,000 apiece for the Christian Service Center, the Sea Glass Initiative, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, Feeding the Gulf Coast and the South Baldwin Literacy Council.
•  An FAA grant funding offer for phase 3 of the terminal construction at Gulf Shores International Airport. The FAA will fund $403,335 of the $448,150 for security card access, baggage conveyors and controls and an upgrade to emergency power. The airport authority’ portion will be $44,815. 
• Authorizing the mayor to negotiate easements with the Baldwin EMC to put power lines along Waterway East Boulevard which will require a 10-foot easement. Baldwin EMC has also requested an easement to install electrical services for the new Gulf Shores High School being built at Coastal Gateway Boulevard and the Foley Beach Express.
• Approving a contract with Barge Design Solutions for designing the relocation of utility crossings for a water main and two sewer mains in the Waterway West Boulevard project. The proposed amount for the design is $35,000. In another item on Waterway West Boulevard, the council will consider authorizing the mayor to negotiate the purchase of rights of way directly west of State Route 59 for $1.04 million.
• Awarding a taxi franchise for Jersey Taxi to operate in the city.
• Changing the city benefits service from McGriff to CAC Specialty and Cobbs Allen. There is no cost to the city for this change, according to a memo from Director of Human Resources Tonya Wilson.
• A request from Aaron Wiegert to annex a .8-acre lot at 22138 Creek Road into the city so his children can attend Gulf Shores City Schools.
• A request to rezone four parcels in the 4100 block of County Road 6 to general business. The request received a 5-0 favorable recommendation from the planning commission on July 22. All rezoning requests must be approved by a council vote. The same applicant wants to annex and prezone a parcel at 4199 County Road 6 as neighborhood business.
• Purchasing two 350-seat portable grandstands to be used at the NCAA Sand Volleyball National Championship. Gulf Shores has the contract to host the event through the 2031 event. The bleachers will cost $260,000, and state Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, secured $200,000 from the supplemental education budget to fund most of the project.
• Approving $60,000 to pay for the talent for the city’s annual Winter Concert Series in January and February. Dates this year will be Jan. 26-27, Feb. 2-3, and Feb. 9-10.

Consider several assembly permits for upcoming events including:

• Meeting of the Minds Jimmy Buffett gathering at the Hangout Oct. 22-26. 
• The Sunny 105.7 walk/run/crawl on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. It’s a .7K event that organizers call “a silly fun walk/run/crawl” and will last until 4 p.m. so participants can come and complete the event any time during the two hours.
•  Big Beach Marathon with events slated for Jan. 24-25 with starts for the marathon, half marathon and 5K run at the Hangout. 
• The Sea Turtle half marathon and Sweetheart 5K runs on Valentine’s Day starting at the Hangout.