SR-161 North Roundabout Opens in Gulf Shores, Final Piece of ALDOT Upgrades

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The SR-161 North Roundabout south of Gateway Boulevard is now open to traffic, the Alabama Department of Transportation announced, marking the final major piece of a set of State Route 161 improvements that also included two new bridges serving the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area.

The roundabout sits on SR-161 just south of Gateway Boulevard, which is also County Road 8. According to ALDOT, it is designed to add connections and travel options for drivers using SR-161, one of the routes that carries residents and visitors between the mainland portion of south Baldwin County and the beaches.

SR-161 North Roundabout completes major corridor work

ALDOT describes the North Roundabout as the last major element of the SR-161 improvements. The larger project has included:

• The SR-161 South Bridge, also known as the Waterway Bridge
• The SR-161 North Bridge, located near The Wharf
• The SR-161 North Roundabout, south of Gateway Boulevard (CR-8), which is now open

With the roundabout open, the SR-161 project is nearing completion. ALDOT said the completed improvements are designed to provide additional capacity, improve traffic flow and give residents and visitors more travel options along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

What the new roundabout does for drivers

According to ALDOT, the North Roundabout will:

• Give southbound SR-161 traffic access to Roscoe Road and additional access to County Road 4.
• Allow northbound SR-161 motorists to more easily access southbound SR-161 toward SR-180 and Alabama’s beaches.
• Provide another connection between SR-161 and the local road network.
• Improve traffic flow and give motorists more travel options through the area.

In practical terms, the roundabout functions as a new junction that lets drivers move between SR-161 and nearby local roads without the need for a traffic signal. For drivers heading north on SR-161 who need to turn around and head back south toward SR-180 and the beaches, the roundabout provides an easier way to do so. For southbound drivers, it opens a route onto Roscoe Road and another way to reach County Road 4.

Those added connections are meant to spread traffic across more of the local road network, giving drivers alternatives rather than funneling every trip through the same few intersections.

Why the SR-161 improvements matter

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach together make up one of Alabama’s busiest tourism destinations. During peak travel seasons — especially summer weekends, holidays and spring break — traffic on the routes leading to and from the beaches can back up for miles. Year-round population growth in south Baldwin County has added to the demand on local roads.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway separates the beach communities from the rest of Baldwin County, so bridges across the waterway are critical links. Every additional crossing and connection gives drivers another option, which can help ease congestion and provide alternate routes when one road is crowded or blocked. Additional routes are also important for emergency response and for hurricane evacuations, when large numbers of people need to leave the coast in a short time.

The SR-161 work, with its two bridges and the newly opened roundabout, is part of a broader effort by state and local governments to expand road capacity in the fast-growing area.

How to drive through a roundabout

Roundabouts have become increasingly common on Alabama roads, but some drivers — especially visitors — may still be getting used to them. Here are the basic rules:

• Slow down as you approach. Roundabouts are designed for low speeds. Watch for signs showing which lane to use for your exit.
• Yield to traffic already in the roundabout. Vehicles inside the circle have the right of way. Wait for a safe gap before entering.
• Travel counterclockwise. Always keep to the right of the central island and drive in a counterclockwise direction.
• Do not stop inside the roundabout. Once you have entered, keep moving until you reach your exit, unless you need to stop to avoid a crash.
• Use your turn signal when exiting. Signaling lets other drivers and pedestrians know your intentions.
• Watch for pedestrians and cyclists. Yield to people in crosswalks at the entry and exit points.
• Give large vehicles room. Trucks, buses and vehicles towing boats or trailers may need extra space and may use the raised apron around the center island.

If you miss your exit, simply continue around the circle again and exit when you reach it.

Safety benefits of roundabouts

Transportation agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration, recognize modern roundabouts as a proven safety measure. Compared with traditional intersections, roundabouts reduce the number of points where vehicles can collide and eliminate the high-speed, right-angle and head-on crashes that are among the most dangerous types of intersection collisions. Because traffic moves more slowly through a roundabout, crashes that do occur tend to be less severe.

Roundabouts can also keep traffic moving more steadily than a signalized intersection, since drivers do not have to wait through a full red-light cycle when no other traffic is present. That can reduce delays, especially during off-peak hours.

Tips for traveling SR-161 now that the roundabout is open

Because the traffic pattern in the area has changed, drivers who regularly use SR-161, Gateway Boulevard, Roscoe Road or County Road 4 should take a few precautions in the coming weeks:

• Pay close attention to new signs, lane markings and any temporary traffic control devices.
• Allow extra time until you become familiar with the new connections.
• Be patient with other drivers, including visitors who may be unfamiliar with the area or with roundabouts.
• Check ALDOT’s traffic information resources, including the ALGO Traffic website, for current road conditions and any remaining construction activity.

Navigation apps may take some time to reflect the new road connections, so drivers should follow posted signs where they differ from what an app suggests.

With the North Roundabout now carrying traffic, drivers along SR-161 have the full set of new connections ALDOT planned for the corridor, along with the added capacity of the South Bridge over the waterway and the North Bridge near The Wharf.