Gulf Shores approves $1.25 million more for pedestrian bridge plazas

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Work on the Gulf Shores Pedestrian Bridge plazas will soon begin, with the bridge expected to open next spring. The city is putting up more than $1 million to get the process going.

City approves change order

The Pedestrian Bridge towers are near completion, and work on the plazas is set to begin. The original $3.6 million GOMESA grant will not cover the current estimated construction cost of the plazas at the foot of each bridge tower.

The Gulf Shores City Council approved a change order for an additional $1.25 million to keep construction of the $30 million Pedestrian Bridge and plazas on pace.

Grant Brown, with the City of Gulf Shores, said the city expects growth in the Waterway Village District.

“We envision a lot more growth in that as a second coast. We have the gulf but we don’t really have a lot of backwater areas, but the Waterway Village District and using that as a second economic coast really makes sense,” Brown said.

Businesses endure nearly two years of construction

Surrounding businesses have endured construction, road closures and detours for nearly two years. Tacky Jack’s sits next to the south tower.

Ken Kichler, chief financial officer of Tacky Jack’s, said the construction has affected the business.

“For two years, we’ve been going through a giant construction project next door. It certainly creates issues with our guest experience for getting here but we’ve worked our way through. We’ve made adjustments. Worked closely with the city to minimize the impact and we’re ready to go now,” Kichler said.

Arts gallery looks to new phase

The Gulf Coast Arts Alliance gallery is down the street from the bridge. The group has more than 200 members with 50 artists’ works on display. Construction has been a drawback for the gallery, and news that the next phase will move forward has members smiling again.

Laura Caffey, president of the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, said the group expects the project to bring more attention to the area.

“We see it as a new era coming into Gulf Shores, especially for the arts and entertainment. You know, we have been here for fifteen years but we still have people say every day, hey, I never knew y’all were here, so I feel like the arts and entertainment district will bring more light into the area as far as people knowing it’s here and being able to come and to see the beautiful things we have here at the gallery,” Caffey said.

Plazas to create event space

The bridge will connect the north and south sides of the Intracoastal Waterway. The plazas will also create event space in the Waterway Village District.

“Space where people can gather. There’ll be a stage where we can activate the stage and have entertainment. There will be a splash pad for kids to be able to play in some water elements. We’ll have art markets and we’re anticipating having one of our signature events returning in April of ’27 which is the Zydeco Crawfish Festival and that’s kind of the first event that will take place in this new space,” officials said.

Timeline

If construction stays on schedule, the bridge will open to pedestrian traffic and the plazas will open for events next spring.