No More Tolls!

Governor Kay Ivey, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, and the Baldwin County Bridge Company recently announced a pivotal agreement for the state to acquire the Foley Beach Express Bridge in Orange Beach, a move championed by Governor Ivey to make the bridge toll-free upon transfer of ownership, benefiting both locals and tourists.

The transaction, set to conclude in May, will mark the cessation of toll collection at noon on the closing date, which will be announced soon. Subsequently, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will oversee the toll-free operation of the Beach Express Bridge, initially accommodating both southbound and northbound traffic.

ALDOT’s ongoing construction of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge, slated for completion in Spring or early Summer 2026, will enable the Beach Express Bridge to exclusively handle northbound traffic, while the new ALDOT bridge will manage southbound traffic, enhancing traffic flow to and from Alabama’s beaches through parallel paired bridges.

The entire route from Interstate 10 will transition into a state highway, designated as State Route 161. As part of the agreement, ALDOT will pay $57 million to acquire the bridge from the Baldwin County Bridge Company, allocating an additional $3 million to Orange Beach for local road enhancements.

Furthermore, ALDOT pledges to pursue widening Canal Road to five lanes between the parallel bridges and to improve the intersection at the State Route 161/180 junction in Orange Beach, as outlined in the State Transportation Improvement Program for 2024-2027. These terms resolve the lawsuit initiated by the Baldwin County Bridge Company and annul its contract with the City of Orange Beach.

Mayor Kennon commended the collaborative efforts among ALDOT, the City of Orange Beach, and the Baldwin County Bridge Company, expressing gratitude to Governor Ivey for eliminating tolls and enhancing traffic efficiency for Orange Beach and Gulf Shores residents and visitors. The Orange Beach City Council will vote on the proposed agreement during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 7.

Looking back on its service since 2000, the Baldwin County Bridge Company expressed pride in providing a safe route to the beach for nearly a quarter-century. To facilitate the end of tolling, the company will cease opening new accounts or modifying existing ones starting April 30 and will initiate refunds for remaining account balances in June, with Unlimited Pass account holders receiving refunds based on the remaining days.