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Orange Beach outlines bridge, trails, renourishment and new event center plans; timeline for multimodal projects shared
Summary
Town‑hall attendees heard updates on the Waterway Bridge schedule, a multimodal trail system, temporary and permanent traffic signals, beach renourishment costs, a new performing arts/event center plan and other city capital projects including a sea‑turtle rehab facility.
City officials provided a broad update on infrastructure and capital projects at the April 2 town hall, including bridge work, shared‑use trails, traffic signals, beach renourishment, facility improvements and plans for a new local performing arts center.
The Chair said the Waterway Bridge to the west is on track to be finished in summer 2026 and that, when built, the new structure will be single‑direction southbound initially. Officials said temporary traffic signals should be in place in roughly five to six months and that permanent signals typically require about a year for installation and permitting. The Chair described a 10‑foot‑wide multimodal pathway running from Wharf Parkway east to Oak Street and continuing on the east side from the elementary school to Bearpoint; staff indicated the Wharf‑to‑Bearpoint segment’s contract is approximately a year and aimed for completion by the end of this year.
On coastal projects, the Chair reported recent beach renourishment work and cited a cost figure shown in presentation slides; the Chair described the spending as necessary to protect the shoreline and the local tourism economy. The Coastal Alabama Sea Turtle Center was noted as a freestanding rehabilitation facility in construction with a roughly $1,500,000 budget to care for and rehabilitate sea turtles.
City facility projects reported included building renovations at City Hall, Justice Center and Recreation Center, additional parking at the public library and arts campus improvements. The city also discussed ownership and future plans for an event center the city acquired at The Wharf; officials said they are negotiating to sell that facility to The Wharf and plan to use proceeds to build a community event center on the east side with capacity for roughly 800–1,000 people for local use.
Public safety assets described included a 38‑foot police offshore boat funded in part by a grant and continued investment in EMS, which the Chair said offers response times of about 10–12 minutes to a freestanding emergency facility under typical conditions.
Staff and council said they will continue to provide project updates and that many items are subject to state permitting and third‑party timelines.
