Weeks Bay, Ala. — (OBA) — The Bay Watch Public Boat Ramp in Baldwin County, Alabama, is now open again after a period of closure for major parking improvements. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) finished the upgrades this month, which are expected to help local anglers, boaters, and visitors to the Weeks Bay Reserve. The ramp has become even more important for people who enjoy fishing and boating in coastal Alabama. Officials say the new improvements will serve the community for years to come.

The boat ramp, found next to the U.S. Highway 98 bridge at the mouth of Fish River, was closed in May 2025. During the closure, crews paved the gravel parking area and created clear markings for 36 vehicles with trailers, plus six spaces for single vehicles. New Americans with Disabilities Act parking includes one spot for a single vehicle and two spots for vehicles with trailers. The project also included boat tie-down areas, with new lighting expected to be added soon.

ADCNR used funding from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) for this work. This upgrade follows earlier improvements made in 2019 when the finger pier and launching slab were replaced. With fishing license sales rising in Alabama, ADCNR leaders said these upgrades are needed for the growing number of people who enjoy coastal waters.

Chris Blankenship, ADCNR Commissioner, said that these changes are part of a larger effort to improve public access to waterways across the state. Patti McCurdy, Director of ADCNR’s State Lands Division, added that more anglers and recreational boaters now have quality access to outdoor experiences in Baldwin County thanks to the upgrades.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will soon celebrate the completion of the Bay Watch upgrades, with the date and time to be announced on ADCNR’s website. Other recent projects in south Alabama include ramp improvements at Mount Vernon, Chocolatta, and Billy Goat Hole, as well as a new ramp being built at Cedar Point in partnership with Mobile County.

For more information about boating access on Alabama’s coast, residents can visit the ADCNR website at the Coastal Alabama Boating Access website. The ADCNR helps manage Alabama’s natural resources through its divisions of Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.