Orange Beach, Ala. - (OBA) - Residents and visitors should prepare for temporary traffic adjustments due to water authority work scheduled for next week. The southern eastbound lane of Canal Road, in front of Dollar General and Posh Interiors, will be closed to facilitate the Orange Beach Water Authority's operations.

The closure is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 6th, and is expected to continue until 8 a.m. on Friday, June 9th. Despite the roadwork, access to the stores will remain open for the duration of the project.

The Water Authority will be conducting crucial work to perform a tie-in to a 24-inch water main at this location. This operation is part of the broader East Canal Road widening project, which has been ongoing since September 2022.

The larger project aims to expand a 1.4-mile section of Canal Road to three lanes to allow for a middle turn lane. A roundabout near the public library is also under construction, and a 10-foot multi-use path will be created on the north side of the road between Callaway Drive and Wilson Boulevard.

For the safety of everyone, the speed limit in the construction zone will continue to be strictly enforced at 25 mph.

Thompson Engineering is serving as the project engineer, and John G. Walton Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the construction contract in the amount of $7.36 million. The majority of the cost for this project will be covered by funds from the RESTORE Act, a post-BP oil spill initiative that supports resources and ecosystem sustainability, tourism opportunities, and revived economies of the Gulf Coast States. The RESTORE grant will cover $5.9 million of the project costs.

The Canal Road project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2024.