Gulf Shores Unveils Major Transportation and Education Projects

New pedestrian bridge, highway expansion, and high school campus highlight city's growth plans

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Gulf Shores, Alabama is moving forward with a series of major infrastructure and education projects, including a new pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, expansion of Highway 59, and construction of a state-of-the-art high school campus. The city's recreation and public information director, Grant Brown, provided updates on these initiatives at a recent community showcase event.

Why it matters

These projects aim to improve transportation, pedestrian safety, and educational facilities in Gulf Shores as the city continues to grow. The pedestrian bridge and highway expansion will ease traffic flow, while the new high school campus will provide enhanced learning opportunities for students. The initiatives reflect Gulf Shores' commitment to investing in its infrastructure and community assets.

The details

The Gulf Shores Pedestrian Bridge, nearly 50% complete, will provide a dedicated crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway as part of the Highway 59 widening project. The area around the bridge's base will also be developed into a new city event space. To accommodate the bridge, a temporary detour has been established for Canal Road that may remain in place for 5-6 years until a permanent reroute is completed. Another major transportation project is the new one-way ALDOT bridge splitting from Foley Beach Express, which will open by Memorial Day. This will alleviate traffic on the existing Foley Beach Express bridge, but has raised concerns about the northbound/southbound split creating inconvenience for students traveling to the new Gulf Shores High School campus on County Road 8.

  • The Gulf Shores Pedestrian Bridge is scheduled for completion in November 2026.
  • The Highway 59 widening project's phase two, adding three southbound lanes, is set to be paved by summer 2026.
  • The new ALDOT bridge project is slated to open by Memorial Day 2026.
  • The new Gulf Shores High School campus is scheduled to open for students in August 2026.
  • The temporary Canal Road detour is expected to remain in place for 5-6 years.

The players

Grant Brown

Director of recreation and cultural affairs and public information officer for the City of Gulf Shores.

Ford Handley

City Administrator for the City of Orange Beach.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism

The organization that hosted the Winter Showcase Series event where the project updates were presented.

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT)

The state agency overseeing the construction of the new one-way bridge project.

Gulf Shores High School

The new high school campus being built, featuring enhanced facilities like a 702-seat theater and expanded athletic amenities.

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What they’re saying

“That's a temporary detour, but when we say 'temporary,' we're probably five or six years with this traffic pattern.”

— Grant Brown, Director of recreation and cultural affairs and public information officer (gulfcoastnewstoday.com)

“Also, the state has not yet acquired the funding to do that road, and it's an expensive road because it goes through wetlands and it will have to be elevated. So, it might be longer than six years that this detour will be in effect.”

— Grant Brown, Director of recreation and cultural affairs and public information officer (gulfcoastnewstoday.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Gulf Shores is making significant investments in its transportation infrastructure and educational facilities to support the city's continued growth and development. The new pedestrian bridge, highway expansion, and high school campus reflect the city's commitment to improving connectivity, safety, and learning opportunities for residents and visitors alike.