Ground breaks on I-10 Interchange to the beach

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Work will begin Monday, March 18 on the new Interstate 10 interchange, at County Road 68. It will connect to the Baldwin Beach Express, providing an additional four-lane route to and from the beautiful beaches along Alabama's Gulf Coast.

It will also provide another hurricane evacuation route when major storms hit.

"Baldwin County has seen significant growth over the past few years and with that growth comes a corresponding need for supporting infrastructure, which is exactly what this project is designed to do," said Gov. Robert Bentley.

Transportation Director John Cooper is looking forward to the completion of the project that will provide travelers with another North-South corridor between I-10 and South Baldwin County.

"The addition of a new route to the beaches of Baldwin County will help alleviate some of the traffic congestion currently experienced on other routes," said Cooper. "Also, the new corridor will provide new economic development opportunities in primarily rural areas and an additional hurricane evacuation route for residents leaving the coast in the wake of a major storm."

The new $10.6 million interchange will be the final of four projects linking the interstate to the existing Foley Beach Express. Interstate 10 Exit 49 to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is scheduled to be open in the fall of 2014.

Motorists on I-10 will see a reduced speed limit in the work zone of 55 mph.

During construction, motorists are requested to consider using alternate routes, adjust arrival/departure times, observe work zone speed limits and other work zone signs, and use extreme caution in this area. ALDOT thanks motorists for their patience during this construction to improve Alabama’s roadways.