Orange Beach to Widen Canal Road Sidewalk in $3.6M Project
John Mullen • September 30, 2024
Council to discuss Canal Road multi-modal path expansion

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – On Oct. 1, Orange will begin the process of widening the sidewalk to a 10-foot multi-modal path along east Canal Road from Wilson Boulevard to Bear Point by hiring Thompson Engineering to provide planning, design and inspection services for the $3.6 million project.
The city council will meet in a joint regular/work session at council chambers at city hall at 5 p.m. on Oct. 1. Hiring Thompson for those services will cost $375,000 or 10.2 percent of the total project costs.
During the regular session, the council will consider:
- Approving checks written for goods and services from Sept. 19-Oct. 2 totaling $1.6 million.
- Approving a liquor license for Gulf Babe Wine Boutique in The Wharf.
- Awarding the bid for construction of the Coastal Alabama Sea Turtle Center to Klarman and Day General Contractors for $1.2 million.
- Awarding a bid for tent rentals for the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach to Gulf Coast Events and Rentals for $71,750 a year for three years.
- A contract with J.F. Morris Performance for theater direction for “Shrek The Musical.”
- A resolution authorizing a contract with Peak Software Systems for Golf Center
- member management software for $4,485.
- A resolution accepting a proposal from ThreatAdvice Security Services to connect the field house and batting cage buildings at the Sportsplex to
- the fiber network for $19,280.
- A resolution authorizing a contract with Watermark Design Group to provide design, bid, and construction administration services for roof replacement at the Expect Excellence Music Building following the April 2021 hailstorm for $15,200.
- A resolution granting an easement to Point Broadband Fiber to put in fiber internet service.
- An annexation request from David Gatlin for property on Roscoe Road. This will be an introduction and first reading of an ordinance authorizing the request.
- A first reading and introduction of an ordinance amending the city’s golf cart ordinance.
- A first reading and introduction of an ordinance on recreational vehicles including rules about renting RVs within the city.
During the work session, the council will discuss:
- Setting a meeting for the Solid Waste Authority with a suggested date of Oct. 15 at 4:50 p.m.
- Purchasing “real property.” No details were given on where the property is located, the size or its intended uses if the city buys it.
- Buying a video surveillance system for the batting cages at the Sportsplex from Vision Security Technologies for $26,825.
- Awarding the bid for the city’s 2024 roadway resurfacing project.
- Paying for $30,000 worth of safety enhancements for Orange Beach City Schools.
- Hiring Gunn & Associates for electrical engineering services for pickleball court lighting for $15,900.
- Authorizing a contract with CSG Forte Payments to help the city begin to start processing online payments.
- Setting a public hearing for an ordinance change to allow residents of Fish Camp Landing to improve and expand the marina to 52 slips to offer a slip for each residence in the subdivision. The suggested date is Oct. 15.
- Setting a public hearing for a change in the sign ordinance to allow and expansion of the Columbia Southern University’s sign on the Foley Beach Express. The suggested date was Oct. 15.
Share this article w/ Friends...

Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores police officers arrested eight people Wednesday after an armed robbery at a home in the 5500 block of Lemon Tree Lane. The suspects—six adults and two juvenile males—face multiple felony charges. Officers located the suspect vehicle within one minute of responding to the call. N

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach City Schools invites students, staff, and the community to celebrate the start of the school year at the annual Makos on Main Parade. The event will be held at The Wharf in Orange Beach and is free and open to the public. Students from Pre-K through 12th grade will march toget

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — An Orange Beach resident, Maria Hawkins, found more than she expected while checking their property Wednesday morning after Tropical Storm Bertha. A boat had washed up near their dock overnight. Hawkins spotted it after waking up and stepping outside to survey the damage. What followed was

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — NOAA Fisheries is inviting the public to weigh in on a proposed rule that would reduce the annual catch limit for Gulf Spanish mackerel. The proposed change is part of Framework Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Reg

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Tropical Storm Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, was located due south of Dauphin Island and just southwest of Orange Beach as of 4 a.m. CDT this morning. The NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami issued Advisory 12, placing the storm's center near lati

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Watching a cluster of balloons drift over the Gulf may feel like a fitting tribute or a joyful celebration, but researchers say the practice causes lasting harm to wildlife and the environment. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System published a report, warning that every balloon released

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Tropical Storm Bertha was about 175 miles southeast of Mobile, Alabama, as of 7 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued Intermediate Advisory 8A at that time, placing the storm's center near latitude 28.8 North, longitude 86.2 West. Maximum sustain

Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — An Elberta woman has been named the American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year for the State of Alabama. Judi Wheat received the honor at a recent district meeting at American Legion Post 99 in Foley. Alabama State American Legion Auxiliary President Carla Biniecki presented the award. Famil

Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley has lowered the speed limit on Irwin Street to improve access for low-speed vehicles. The Foley City Council gave final approval to an ordinance implementing the change. The new limit is 35 miles per hour, down from 40 miles per hour. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the lower limit wi


