| Baldwin County 49 (Magnolia Street) crosses paths with Alabama 59 just north of U.S. 90 and Baldwin County 68. Alabama 59 angles northwestward toward Interstate 10 as Baldwin County 49 continues straight north. The county highway provides an alternate route to U.S. 90 westbound for Malbis and Daphne. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| Northbound Alabama 59 reassurance shield and companion Interstate 10 trailblazer posted on Gulf Shores Parkway north of Baldwin County 49 and Loxley. Less than a mile separates the town with the Exit 44 folded-cloverleaf interchange of Interstate 10. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| Traffic to Interstate 10 eastbound utilizes a loop ramp from Alabama 59 northbound. 22 miles separate the interchange from the Florida State line. Westward Interstate 10 crosses the Mobile Bay in nine miles. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| Six miles north of Interstate 10 (Exit 44) is the Alabama 59 merge with U.S. 31 at Stapleton. The tandem join together along the Gulf Shores Parkway from Pine Haven to the Baldwin County seat of Bay Minette. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| U.S. 31 travels ten miles from its beginning in Spanish Fort to Stapleton and Alabama 59. The two-lane roadway joins Gulf Shores Parkway at a traffic light. Northward U.S. 31 turns into downtown Bay Minette as Alabama 59 veers northwesterly toward Stockton and rural northern Baldwin County. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 shields posted after their merge at the community of Stapleton. The two highways join for a 10.7 mile marriage between Stapleton and the Baldwin County seat of Bay Minette. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| A second set of U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 shields guide motorists northbound on the Gulf Shores Parkway through Stapleton. Baldwin County 39 departs Gulf Shores Parkway ahead for Baldwin County 138 and the community of Crossroads. The four-lane parkway otherwise features a grassy median and 65 MPH speed limit. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) northbound at junction Baldwin County 138 (Hurricane Road). These two photographs look at the parkway northbound at the eastern terminus of Baldwin County 138. The former state route, connects Bay Minette with Alabama 225 near the Tensaw River to the southwest. The highway, and Alabama 225 at that point, are generally considered "back roads". At this point along the Parkway, development has encroached in association with Bay Minette in the form of car dealerships and strip malls. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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| Northbound split of U.S. 31 and Alabama 59 west of downtown Bay Minette. This sign bridge is located on the CSX Railroad underpass, with an Interstate 65 trailblazer in place. U.S. 31 turns to the east and enters downtown Bay Minette while Alabama 59 bypasses the town to the north and west continuing the four-lane Gulf Shores Parkway. Interstate 65 is located six miles to the north via both Alabama 59 and Alabama 287. The split between the two highways is handled by a traffic light, surrounded by a shopping plaza and other commercial development. Note the greenouts over the down arrows on both panels and the placement of double yellow flashers to coincide with the signal warning signs in the second photograph. Photos taken 04/11/02 & 06/14/04.
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| To the north of Bay Minette, is this intersection along the Gulf Shores Parkway at Alabama 287. Alabama 59, which now bypasses Bay Minette to the west, originally cut through the downtown area of the Baldwin County seat. The new alignment was constructed to allow for a higher speed connection between Interstate 65 and the coastal vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico to the south. At this particular location, Alabama 59 leaves the Gulf Shores Parkway towards the town of Stockton, while Alabama 287 continues the four-lane highway another four miles to Interstate 65. Note also the twin Interstate 65 trailblazers. These are in place, because Alabama 59 also intersects Interstate 65 at an interchange. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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| The northern terminus of Alabama 225 via Alabama 59 north in Stockton. Alabama 59 north continues through vastly undeveloped countryside another 38 miles before terminating at Alabama 21 in Uriah. The communities of Tensaw, Blacksher, Little River, and Chrysler are very small hamlets. Photo taken 03/23/02.
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| And finally the northern terminus, 93 miles the Gulf of Mexico, at Alabama 21 in Uriah. Not much to be said about this town, as it appears to be in a sad state of affairs. To the right of this photograph is a crumbling brick building that was a general store. The small town decay is a common sight along Alabama 21 between Uriah and Monroeville, a distance of 20 miles. Photo taken 06/01/02.
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| Alabama 59 South
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| Southbound Alabama 59 at the northern terminus of Alabama 225. Alabama 225 is a north-south route along the western fringes of Baldwin County between Stockton and Spanish Fort. The highway is very rural in nature for the most part, with the exception of near Historic Blakeley State Park, where suburban sprawl is underway. Alabama 225 intersects Interstate 65 with an interchange three miles to the south. Photo taken 04/11/02.
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| Southbound on Alabama 59 approaching Interstate 65. This neutered shield, is one of a few for the Interstate in Baldwin County. The forested scenery is common along Alabama 59 from Alabama 287 northward to the Monroe County line. The pentagon in the background is for Baldwin County 21, a route that parallels Interstate 65 west to Alabama 225 south of Stockton. Photo taken 03/23/02.
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Alabama 59 represents one of two routes between the Baldwin County seat of Bay Minette to Interstate 65 in conjunction with Alabama 287 (Jack Springs Road / Gulf Shores Parkway). The state highway crosses into the city limits 3.7 miles south of the Exit 34 diamond interchange of the freeway. Photo taken 06/14/04. |
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Nearing junction Alabama 287 (Gulf Shores Parkway) on Alabama 59 (Hand Avenue) southbound. Alabama 287 begins at its interchange with Interstate 65 (Exit 37) to the north. The state route follows a four-lane divided highway to its intersection with Alabama 59. Here Alabama 59 overtakes Gulf Shores Parkway / McMeans Avenue around Bay Minette to the northwest. Alabama 287 turns southward on Hand Avenue into downtown. Photo taken 06/14/04. |
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The changeover of Gulf Shores Parkway from Alabama 287 to Alabama 59. The four-lane parkway begins in Gulf Shores along the Gulf of Mexico and ends at Interstate 65 Exit 37. The roadway is the main access route for the resort areas of South Baldwin County from the north and also the main evacuation route for hurricane threats. Alabama 287 travels Hand Avenue two miles south to its end at U.S. 31 and the downtown square. Photo taken 06/14/04. |
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U.S. 31 & Alabama 59 share 10.7 miles of pavement between Gulf Shores and Stapleton in central Baldwin County. The four-lane divided highway is known as the Gulf Shores Parkway as it provides part of the route between Interstate 65 and points north to the resort towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Photo taken 06/14/04. |
| The partition of Alabama 59 and U.S. 31 southbound at Stapleton. U.S. 31 southbound turns westward toward Spanish Fort and its southern terminus from Gulf Shores Parkway. Alabama 59 remains on a southerly heading and intersects Interstate 10 (Exit 44) in six miles. Photo taken 05/16/04.
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| Alabama 59 southbound reassurance shield and Foley Beach Express trailblazer, just south of the Interstate 10 interchange near Loxley. Alabama 59 is the divided four-lane Gulf Shores Parkway between Bay Minette and Loxley. The roadway loses its median from Loxley southward. This was not always the case, as the roadway was only expanded to four lanes by 1996. The increased capacity was a result of increased coastal development in the Gulf Shores to Fort Morgan area, and the demand placed on Alabama 59 during a hurricane evacuation situation. Photo taken 12/10/01.
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| Alabama 59 southbound at the eastern end of Alabama 104 in the town of Robertsdale. Another notorious speed trap, Robertsdale is more typical of prosperous Alabamian towns, with a hodgepodge of subdivisions and shopping plazas. The speed limit therefore reduces to 35 mph with the many entrances/exits to these sites along the state highway. Photo taken 04/21/02.
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| Advance sign bridge for the northern terminus of the Foley Beach Express. Foley Beach Express trailblazers can be found all along Alabama 59 and surrounding roadways. Billboards are also posted advertising the existence of the roadway. As for the Express itself, it traverses farm fields and forest stands between Alabama 59 and U.S. 98. However, the pastoral scenery is tarnished by the placement of over 50 billboards within the highway right-of-way. The road was partially financed with private funds, and therefore the ad space is intended to help make the highway money. Photo taken 08/24/03.
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| Second of two southbound sign bridges for the split of Alabama 59 with the Foley Beach Express. Although there are no interchanges on the bypass, the road has limited intersections, and an overall 55 mph speed limit. The only segment that is tolled is the bridge over the Intracoastal waterway. Otherwise, travel is free. Alabama 59 beelines southward towards downtown Foley and Gulf Shores. Although Foley offers a modern town feel, with many shops and other tourist friendly amenities, traffic tends to snarl, as lower speed limits and traffic lights impede through traffic progress. Photo taken 08/24/03.
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| Shield assembly at the Foley Beach Express northern terminus. The highway opened to traffic in 2000. Photo taken 08/24/03.
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| Southbound Alabama 59 (McKenzie Street) as it departs the intersection with U.S. 98 (Laurel Avenue) in downtown Foley. McKenzie Street is lined with several small businesses representing some of the small town charm that remains in the south Baldwin County town. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| A set of mast arm signals resides at the intersection of Alabama 59 (McKenzie Street) and Myrtle Avenue. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Baldwin County 26 (Michigan Avenue) skims the outskirts of Foley between Baldwin County 12 (Hickory Street) Alabama 59. Michigan Avenue continues eastward beyond McKenzie Street to South Maple Street. Depicted here is the signalized intersection of Alabama 59 south at Michigan Avenue. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Alabama 59 (McKenzie Street) remains commercialized on the ten mile drive between Foley and Gulf Shores. Suburban type strip mall development lines both sides of the five-lane surface boulevard. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Junction Baldwin County 4 pentagon for the Oyster Bay Road intersection of Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) southbound in north Gulf Shores. Oyster Bay Road straddles the Intracoastal Waterway westward to Oyster Bay on Bon Secour Bay. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Gulf Shores Parkway rises above the Intracoastal Waterway from Baldwin County 4 southward into Gulf Shores. The four-lane concrete bridge is rather non-descript asides the placement of ornamental light posts. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Now in the heart of Gulf Shores itself, Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) meets the first of several traffic signals along the four to five lane boulevard. Canal Drive and 24th Avenue North intersect Gulf Shores Parkway just south of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge in this photograph. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Approaching Alabama 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway), one of two east-west highways serving the coastal areas of south Baldwin County. Dixie Graves Parkway travels 22 miles east from Fort Morgan and the Fort Morgan Peninsula to Gulf Shores and junction Alabama 59. The state highway turns northward from Dixie Graves Parkway onto East Second Street just one quarter mile east of Gulf Shores Parkway. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Alabama 59 southbound at Alabama 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway). The west end of the Fort Morgan Peninsula sees Alabama 180 end at the Fort Morgan State Historic Site and ferry launch for the Fort Morgan-Dauphin Island car ferry. Eastward Alabama 180 follows East Second Street northward to Canal Drive and the Intracoastal Waterway. From there Alabama 180 turns east en route to the Foley Beach Express and Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) within the town of Orange Beach. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Traveling the final mile of Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) southbound between Alabama 180 and the southern terminus at Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard). Alabama 59 kisses the western boundary of Gulf State Park between West Eighth Avenue and West Sixth Avenue through here. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Public Beach access is provided at the southern terminus intersection of Alabama 59 at Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard). Beach homes and condominiums line most of Beach Boulevard to the west and east of Alabama 59 otherwise. However Gulf State Park also provides several areas of public beach access between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach via Beach Boulevard eastbound. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Southbound at Second Avenue two blocks north of Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard). Second Avenue provides an alternate to Alabama 182 eastbound for Orange Beach by way of East First Street. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| Entering the final block of Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) between First Avenue and junction Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard). Alabama 182 straddles the Gulf of Mexico coastline between Pine Beach and Florabama at the Florida State line. The state highway ends six miles to the west. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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| End shield posted for Alabama 59 at the intersection with Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard). Beach Boulevard consists of four overall lanes between a point two miles west of Alabama 59 and just east of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge onto Perdido Key. At the Florida State line, Alabama 182 transitions into Florida 292 en route to Warrington and West Pensacola, Florida. Photo taken 05/15/04.
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Page Updated November 5, 2004.
