Gulf Shores Residents Can Expect Improved Traffic Flow Next Year

As part of the community’s push to improve traffic along Alabama 59, Gulf Shores will be getting a facelift on the stretch between Fort Morgan Road and Beach Boulevard. Beach traffic around Gulf Shores is something that all travelers and locals have to deal with during the busy seasons, and the delay can be annoying, dangerous, and difficult to navigate.

The changes are riding on the coattails of the recent installation of automatically changing signals that adapt to roadway congestion. The new updates promise to improve traffic capacity in the area by 20%! Mayor Robert Craft has cited traffic issues as one of the more difficult problems facing the city.

Here is what you need to know about the project:

The timeframe – The city and the Alabama Department of Transportation are planning to begin construction in October, after the Shrimp Festival. They will conclude the construction phase in spring 2016 and resume after the summer season in fall 2016, pressing north to the bridge.

The expected outcome – When everything is said and done, more pedestrian and vehicle traffic should be able to move efficiently through the area and residents should notice a change in how traffic moves through key turns and intersections.

The process – At first, crews will start restructuring access points to all right turns into and out of key areas. They will also extend sidewalk widths on both sides of the highway to 8 feet. The sidewalk improvements will extend for more than a mile and be complemented by sustainable palm tree landscaping.

The cost – The total cost of the sidewalk, $1.8 million, will be paid for by the Alabama Department of Transportation ($1 million grant) and the city ($800,000). The ALDOT will fully fund the access point project, which will cost roughly $400,000.

The future – After these projects have been completed before the travel season in 2017, the ALDOT also plans to repave Alabama 59.

Property owners and business owners have played an instrumental role in these projects. Their input has helped decision makers strategically plan their access points for the fair accommodation of all affected parties. Traffic along the busy corridor is likely to still have its good days and bad days, but overall, residents should expect a noticeable difference. The changes are just a few of the projects underway to make our community safer and more accessible. Interested in learning more about owning property in our community? Contact Kris L. Powell and Associates today.