Fairhope Seeks $20 Million Federal BUILD Grant to Replace Failed Fly Creek Culverts With Bridge
The Fairhope City Council voted to apply again for a $20 million federal BUILD grant to replace the failed Fly Creek box culverts under U.S. 98 with a bridge.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council has voted to apply again for a $20 million federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to replace the failed Fly Creek box culverts under U.S. Highway 98 with a bridge. The city’s applications in 2024 and 2025 were not successful.
Culvert history
The culverts failed in 2023, and emergency repairs were made that year. Former Mayor Tim Kant first proposed restoring the creek’s biological and hydraulic connectivity in 2014.
Concerns about the culverts, drainage, wetlands and sewer lines near the creek were raised in lawsuits filed against the city over the Publix shopping center project on Parker Road. An apartment complex was later built on the same site, and more land there has since been cleared for additional multifamily development.
Marina dredging
Separately, the Fairhope Marina is being dredged to maintain the main Fly Creek boat channel, work that is needed about every five years to keep the channel deep enough for boats. The city selected M & N of Alabama LLC to perform the dredging. The city and the Fairhope Yacht Club are sharing the cost of dredging the main channel, and the city will pay for the upper creek channel. The marina has also received Clean and Resilient Marina status.
City Councilman Jack Burrell has said the sediment is coming from the bay and moving up the creek.
Water quality
Water quality monitoring by Baykeeper has shown high bacteria levels at Fly Creek at Highway 98 and at Fly Creek at Scenic 98, both rated red. At those sites, a red rating indicates bacteria levels greater than 235 MPN per 100 milliliters.
