Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — ALDOT reports progress on the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge and roadway project. The new bridge and road are intended to ease traffic to Alabama’s beaches and improve safety for residents. The project features new lanes and a southbound route option.

The overall work includes a new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge and a new connector road to SR-161. ALDOT said the combined projects remain on schedule for completion by summer 2026. One key milestone was reached in December 2025, when crews completed the bridge decks.

ALDOT announced that the bridge is moving closer to completion. Both the new bridge and the existing Beach Express Bridge will each have two lanes, doubling capacity for Beach Express users and increasing the number of lanes crossing the Intracoastal Waterway.

According to ALDOT, the bridge substructure and steel girders are 100% complete. Superstructure work is 95% complete. Roadway work is 90% complete. Next, subcontractors will install a protective concrete barrier wall on the bridge. Another crew is preparing to apply the final coat of paint to the steel girders. ALDOT said those tasks will complete the remaining superstructure work.

Crews are preparing to begin final paving on the south side of the bridge along SR-180 (Canal Road). ALDOT said traffic will soon shift into its final configuration. Drivers should expect periodic traffic shifts as paving and barrier work continue.

Work is also progressing on the SR-161 connector project, according to ALDOT. Right-of-way has been cleared from CR-4 to the first low-level bridge site. Utility relocation and roadway construction are ongoing.

Another traffic project involves Holmes Bridge on Highway 59. ALDOT said that after a new pedestrian bridge and Highway 59 widening are complete, the City of Gulf Shores will add a third southbound lane. That would create six lanes in total to improve traffic flow.

ALDOT stated that the combined projects are expected to reduce congestion on State Highway 59, State Highway 161, and State Route 180. The agency also mentioned that the work will improve access for emergency responders, boost hurricane evacuation capacity, and support ongoing economic growth in Coastal Alabama.