AASHTO Journal - Alabama DOT Cancels Foley Beach Express Bridge Tolls

The state of Alabama plans to cease collecting tolls for crossing the Foley Beach Express Bridge in Orange Beach when it finalizes the purchase of the structure on May 23.

[Above photo by the Alabama DOT]

Under the terms of the deal, the Alabama Department of Transportation will pay $57 million to Baldwin County Bridge Company for the bridge and $3 million to the City of Orange Beach for local road improvements.

In addition, the agency commits to pursue a widening Canal Road to five lanes between the new parallel bridges and an intersection improvement at the State Route 161/180 intersection in Orange Beach – both of which were already included in the Alabama DOT’s State Transportation Improvement Program for 2024-2027.

Those agreements will also resolve the lawsuit filed by the Baldwin County Bridge Company and terminate its contract with the City of Orange Beach.

When the transaction is finalized on May 23, the Alabama DOT will operate the Beach Express Bridge toll free. The current structure will continue carrying southbound and northbound traffic until the agency finishes construction of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge sometime in the spring or early summer of 2026.

Once the new bridge is completed, the Foley Beach Express Bridge will be converted to carry only northbound traffic, with the new structure carrying southbound traffic – creating “one-way pairs,” parallel paired bridges to move traffic more efficiently to and from Alabama’s beaches.

Governor Kay Ivey (R) added in an earlier statement that the entire route from Interstate 10 will become a state highway to be named State Route 161.

“Alabama’s Gulf Coast continues to experience record growth and success, and I am proud we are making needed infrastructure improvements in the area that will help alleviate traffic congestion for Alabamians and those visiting our beaches,” said the governor. “I appreciate [Orange Beach] Mayor Kennon, the Baldwin County Bridge Company, the Alabama Department of Transportation and all those involved in this agreement that will lead to significant progress for our Coastal communities.”