U.S. 31 Spanish Fort Upgrades: ALDOT Wants Your Input by Dec. 10

SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Drivers who sit through rush-hour backups on U.S. 31 Spanish Fort have until Dec. 10, 2026, to tell the Alabama Department of Transportation what they think of a plan to widen the corridor and rework key intersections. The proposal would add lanes, turn lanes, sidewalks and signal upgrades along a busy stretch of Baldwin County roadway, and it is already producing a mix of support and concern among people who live and shop nearby.

ALDOT is collecting public feedback now, before the design is finalized, and has said the comments it receives will help shape the final plan.

Proposed U.S. 31 Spanish Fort Changes at a Glance

The project area runs from U.S. 90 to School Road and includes work on U.S. 31, U.S. 90, U.S. 98 and State Route 225. The key elements under consideration include:

• More lanes: Widening portions of the roadway from four lanes to six.
• Turn lanes: Adding turn lanes at key locations to get turning vehicles out of through traffic.
• Signal work: Upgrading and realigning traffic signals to improve flow.
• Sidewalks: Adding sidewalks for pedestrians.
• Driveway access: Tightening access points along the corridor.

ALDOT said the goal of the changes is to help traffic move more safely and efficiently. The proposed $3 million project has received congressional approval.

Why ALDOT Is Targeting This Corridor

Baldwin County has been one of the fastest-growing areas in Alabama for years, and Spanish Fort sits at a crossroads for commuters heading across Mobile Bay, up toward Interstate 65 or along the Eastern Shore. U.S. 31 carries heavy traffic in both the morning and evening rush, and an ALDOT representative said the agency expects those volumes to keep rising as the county continues to add residents.

The department said its aim is simple: keep traffic moving. Turn lanes allow drivers waiting to turn to pull out of the main travel lanes, while additional through lanes and better-timed signals are intended to reduce the stop-and-go conditions that build up at peak hours.

What access management means

Tightening driveway access, often called access management, is a common tool highway agencies use on busy commercial corridors. Limiting the number of places where vehicles can turn in and out, or restricting certain left turns, reduces the number of conflict points where crashes can happen. The tradeoff is that some drivers and businesses may have to use different routes or make U-turns to reach their destinations.

Residents Weigh In

ALDOT held a public meeting at the Spanish Fort Community Center, where maps of the plan were laid out on tables and residents could ask questions of project staff. Those who attended could also fill out comment forms.

Reactions were mixed. A longtime Spanish Fort resident said she was worried about how changes to an intersection near her subdivision would affect getting in and out of the neighborhood. She said she had been told drivers would no longer be able to turn left there and would instead have to turn right and make a U-turn, which she believes would create more congestion.

Another resident questioned whether the state had jumped straight to an expensive solution. He said he was not convinced the plan would fix traffic problems and expressed concern that some merchants along the corridor could be hurt by the changes.

Others welcomed the proposal. One longtime resident said people will keep moving to Spanish Fort regardless, and that some of the improvements would make it easier for drivers to reach State Route 225 or head north on U.S. 31.

How to Submit Comments

Comments on the proposed project must be submitted by Dec. 10, 2026. Residents who could not attend the public meeting can find project and contact information through the Alabama Department of Transportation, which oversees state and federal highways in Alabama through regional offices, including its Southwest Region serving Baldwin and Mobile counties.

Helpful comments are typically specific. Residents may want to note which intersection or driveway they are concerned about, how they currently use it and what effect a proposed change would have on their daily trips or business.

Timeline and Next Steps

After the comment period closes, ALDOT will review public feedback as it works to finalize the project’s design. Construction is currently expected to begin sometime between fall 2027 and spring 2028.

Until then, the plan remains a proposal, and the details could change based on what the department hears from the community. For more on local roadwork and commuting, visit our Transportation and Spanish Fort pages.