ALDOT Moves Forward on $51.85 Million Bridge Over the Intracoastal Waterway in Baldwin County
ALDOT is building a new $51.85 million public bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Baldwin County to cut congestion and add an evacuation route.
The Alabama Department of Transportation is proceeding with construction of a new public bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Baldwin County, a $51.85 million project the City of Gulf Shores says will ease traffic and add a hurricane evacuation route.
Gulf Shores city officials shared ALDOT’s update, which states that the bridge — to be owned by the people of Alabama — is intended to relieve congestion for both residents and visitors while providing an additional way off the coast during emergencies.
Contract and Timeline
Scott Bridge Company, headquartered in Opelika, won the contract through a competitive public bidding process at the low end of ALDOT’s acceptable cost range. The $51.85 million award also came in at the low end of the pre-bid estimate.
Initial work was expected to begin in late October, with a completion deadline of January 1, 2026. ALDOT said it hopes the work moves as quickly as possible, noting that any delay would only worsen Gulf Coast traffic problems.
ALDOT awards construction contracts through public bid lettings, in which sealed bids from prequalified contractors are opened publicly and the contract generally goes to the lowest responsible bidder, provided the price falls within the department’s estimate of what the work should cost.
