Foley Beach Express (FBE) is a 14.0-mile-long (22.5 km) limited-access[2] two- to four-lane highway near the beaches of Baldwin County and the Gulf of Mexico in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It serves as an alternate route for the heavily traveled State Route 59 (SR 59) in nearby Gulf Shores.[2] The southern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with SR 180 in the northwestern part of Orange Beach. The northern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with SR 59 in the far north part of Foley. The extreme southern portion of the highway is part of Alabama's Coastal Connection, a National Scenic Byway.[3]
Foley Beach Express | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by Beach Express | |
| Length | 14.0 mi[1] (22.5 km) |
| Existed | June 2000[2]–present |
| Tourist routes |  Alabama's Coastal Connection |
| Major junctions | |
| South end |  SR 180 in Orange Beach |
| |
| North end |  SR 59 in Foley |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| Counties | Baldwin |
| Highway system | |
| |
The bridge near the southern terminus on the FBE is a comparably quicker connection with the Alabama mainland. It shaves off miles and minutes from crossing the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at SR 59 in Gulf Shores.[4] The bridge was owned by American Roads and was in danger of bankruptcy in 2013, due to American Roads' $830 million debt from the FBE and other toll roads it owned. Syncora Guarantee eventually became the new owner.[5]
In 2024, the Alabama Department of Transportation bought the bridge and abolished tolls on May 23.
Route description
editThe FBE begins at an intersection with SR 180 (Canal Road) in the northwestern part of Orange Beach. It travels to the north-northwest and curves to the northwest. It crosses over Portage Creek and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway on an unnamed toll bridge. This bridge also crosses over County Route 4 (CR 4; Brown Lane). Just after the bridge ends, the highway has a tollbooth. Immediately after the tollbooth is an intersection with the eastern terminus of CR 4. The highway curves to a nearly due north direction and crosses over an unnamed branch of Portage Creek. It then leaves the city limits of Orange Beach. The FBE then curves to the west before a crossing of Cotton Creek. Upon crossing the creek, it curves to the north-northwest. It has an intersection with CR 8, which is only accessible from the southbound lanes of the FBE. It passes the campus of Columbia Southern University. At an intersection with CR 12, the highway enters Foley. Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) later is an intersection with CR 20 (Miflin Road). Here, the Alabama's Coastal Connection designation turns to the east, while the FBE continues to the north. It curves to the northeast and crosses over Wolf Creek before curving back to the north. It then intersects U.S. Route 98 (US 98). Then, the highway curves to the west and has an intersection with the northern terminus of CR 28 and the southern terminus of the Baldwin Beach Express (BBE). It has an intersection with CR 73 just before reaching its northern terminus, an intersection with SR 59.[1]
History
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2016) |
The FBE was built in two sections: the toll-free Foley Bypass, and the then-toll bridge and its approach road. The cost of the highway was $44 million. It was funded by a $36 million private taxable toll revenue bond issue, with additional grants from the Federal Highway Administration and the City of Foley.[2]
It opened to traffic in June 2000.[2]
On July 8, 2015, two barges hit the safety fender of the toll bridge at about 2:15 am. Approximately 60 feet (18 m) of the fender was removed. The bridge was inspected at about 11:00 am, while police and fire boats helped to maintain the area while divers were underwater. The bridge was reopened to traffic at about 1:30 pm.[6]
In May 2024, the Alabama Department of Transportation brought the toll bridge into Orange Beach, and on May 23 toll collection ceased permanently. Demolition of the toll plaza will happen soon afterward.[7]
Major intersections
editThis section is missing mileposts for junctions. |
The entire route is in Baldwin County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Beach | 0.0 | 0.0 |  SR 180 (Alabama's Coastal Connection west) – Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Gulf Shores | Southern terminus; southern end of Alabama's Coastal Connection concurrency | |
  CR 4 west (Brown Lane) | Eastern terminus of CR 4; no access from FBE south to CR 4 or vice versa | ||||
 Bradford Road to CR 4 | No access from FBE north to Bradford Road or vice versa | ||||
 CR 8 west | Eastern terminus of CR 8; no access from FBE north to CR 8 or vice versa | ||||
| Foley |  CR 12 | ||||
 CR 20 (Alabama's Coastal Connection east) | Northern end of Alabama's Coastal Connection concurrency | ||||
| 9.0 | 14.5 |  US 98 (SR 42) – Elberta, Lillian | |||
| 12.9 | 20.8 |       CR 28 south / Baldwin Beach Express north to I-10 | Northern terminus of CR 28; Southern terminus of the BBE | ||
 CR 73 | |||||
| 14.0 | 22.5 |  SR 59 – Gulf Shores, Robertsdale | Northern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c "Overview Map of Foley Beach Express" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Center for Innovative Finance Support Office (n.d.). "Foley Beach Express". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Google (December 19, 2016). "Interactive Map" (Map). Alabama's Coastal Connection Scenic Byway. Alabama Association of Regional Councils. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
{{cite map}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Singleton, Darwin (October 27, 2016). "Orange Beach Pivots for Better Toll-Road Revenue". Mobile, AL: WPMI-TV. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Benman, Keith (December 27, 2014). "When Good Toll Roads Go Bad". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Munster, IN. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Jones, Linda; Robinson-Smith, Will (July 8, 2015). "Foley Beach Express Toll Bridge Reopens Following Barge Accident". Mobile, AL: WALA-TV. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Digital, WVUA 23 (2024-05-22). "Tolls eliminated from Beach Express after state purchases private toll bridge". WVUA 23. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)