Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Alabama Gulf Coast @ AARoads A look at the state highways that serve the Gulf of Mexico coastal area of south Baldwin County, Alabama. The popular resort towns of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores continue to flourish with new home and condo construction. Meanwhile Foley to the north adds appeal with its outlet centers and small town charm. Highway South/West End North/East End Mileage 59 Alabama 182 - Gulf Shores Alabama 21 - Uriah 94.1 135 Alabama 182 - Gulf Shores Alabama 180 - Gulf Shores 2.1 161 Alabama 182 - Orange Beach Alabama 180 - Orange Beach 1.7 180 Fort Morgan Orange Beach 31.4 182 Pine Beach Florida state line (Florida 292) 17.3 Foley Beach Express Alabama 180 - Orange Beach Alabama 59 - Foley 13.5 State Park Road 2 Alabama 182 - Orange Beach Alabama 135 - Gulf State Park 3.0 Alabama 59 provides the main gateway between Interstates 10 and 65 to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The state highway joins U.S. 31 between the two freeways as the Gulf Shores Parkway, a four-lane divided highway between Loxely and Bay Minette. In conjunction with Alabama 287, Alabama 59 acts as the conduit for beachgoers from the Great Lakes and northern Alabama. South of Interstate 10, Alabama 59 maintains at least four overall lanes through to the terminus at Gulf Shores. Speed traps exist in the incorporated towns of Summerdale and Robertsdale where speed limits drop from 55 to 35 MPH. The original Alabama 59 constitutes the route between Uriah and Bay Minette in 1940. By 1957 Alabama 59 grew to its current length extending southward to Gulf Shores over the former Alabama 3 routing.2 Alabama 3 is the hidden counterpart for U.S. 31 in Baldwin County now. Four laning of the stretch between Gulf Shores and Interstate 10 was completed by 1996 to provide additional capacity for the tourist season and hurricane evacuation situations. Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - Alabama 59 Foley Beach Express A public/private project, the Foley Beach Express entails a 13.5-mile expressway and toll bridge between Alabama 59 near Summerdale and Alabama 180 at Orange Beach. The southernmost six miles were built with private funds. Included on this segment is a 2,000 foot span over the Intracoastal Waterway between Orange Beach and the Baldwin County mainland. The 73' tall bridge entailed $10.5 million of the overall $36 million project. The four-lane highway and two-lane bridge opened to traffic by August of 2000 after construction commenced on June 2, 1999. The northernmost 7.5 miles of the expressway are maintained by the city of Foley. The Intracoastal Waterway bridge carries a $2.00 toll for all passenger vehicles or $1.00 for Foley Beach Express Club members.1 Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - Foley Beach Express Alabama 135 provides a short loop between Alabama 180 (East 2nd Street) and Alabama 182 (Gulf Shores Boulevard) through Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores. The two-lane roadway loops around Lake Shelby within the park area and is considered a hurricane evacuation route. Alabama 135 was established in 1957.2 Alabama 135 North Alabama 135 northbound as it departs Alabama 182 (Gulf Shores Boulevard). A boat launch and picnic area for Lake Shelby resides just north of Gulf Shores Boulevard. Photo taken 05/16/04. Hurricane evacuation route trailblazer on Alabama 135 north at the split "Y" intersection with State Park Road 2. Bicycle lanes are striped along Alabama 135 on each side of the highway. Photo taken 05/16/04. Junction Alabama 180 (East Second Street) and Alabama 59 & Foley Beach Express trailblazers posted on Alabama 135 northbound after State Park Road 2. Alabama 180 travels north from Alabama 135 along East Second Street to Canal Road and the Intracoastal Waterway. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 135 northbound ends facing west at the Alabama 180 turn from East Second Street onto Dixie Graves Parkway. Alabama 180 westbound turns to the left one quarter of a mile to junction Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). To the right is the beginning of East Second Street (Alabama 180). Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 135 South First southbound Alabama 135 shield posted as the state route departs Alabama 180 (East Second Street & Dixie Graves Parkway). Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 135 turns southward at the north fork of the split "Y" intersection with State Park Road 2. State Park Road 2 provides an alternate route between Alabama 135 and Alabama 182 east of Lake Shelby. The east loop of the lake also serves the campground facilities within Gulf State Park. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 161 constitutes Orange Beach Boulevard between Alabama 180 (Canal Road) and Alabama 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard) in Orange Beach. The five-lane highway provides one of three connectors between the two east-west routes. Alabama 161 was signed in 1948.2 Alabama 161 South The beginning of Alabama 161 southbound as it departs Alabama 180 in Orange Beach. Talks are underway proposing a second Perdido Bay crossing serving the Orange Beach community from the north. Private investors are lobbying for a tolled two-lane span to extend northward from Alabama 161 to nearby Baldwin County 95. If approved, this project will likely get underway between 2006 and 2008. Photo taken 05/16/04. Traffic signal on Alabama 161 southbound at Marina Road and State Park Drive. The east-west road travels westward to Gulf State Park and State Park Road 2. Photo taken 05/16/04. Junction 182 shield posted on Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) southbound. The state highway ends at the upcoming intersection with Perdido Beach Boulevard ahead. Photo taken 05/16/04. The southern terminus of Alabama 161 at Alabama 182 near Gulf State Park. Alabama 182 is the main drag along the resort areas of the Alabama coastline. Known as Perdido Beach Boulevard, Alabama 182 spans the Baldwin County gulfront from Cedar Grove eastward to the Florida state line at Florabama. The highway becomes Florida 292 four miles to the east. Photo taken 08/24/03. A second view of the Alabama 161 southern terminus at Alabama 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard). Note the open space behind the intersection and compare that to the photograph above... Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 straddles the Gulf of Mexico along the Fort Morgan peninsula from the Fort Morgan State Historic Site eastward to Gulf Shores on the Dixie Graves Parkway. At Gulf Shores the state highway intersects Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) before turning northward on East Second Street at Alabama 135 and Gulf State Park. One mile north there is where Alabama 180 resumes an eastward course along Canal Road and the Intracoastal Waterway. Canal Road carries Alabama 180 10.2 miles between Gulf Shores and the terminus at Perdido Gate Drive in Orange Beach. Signed in 1940 between Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores, the state highway saw extension in 1957 to Orange Beach over the decommissioned Alabama 160.2 Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - Alabama 180 Alabama 182 provides the coastal route between Pine Beach and the Florida State line at Florabama. Following Beach Boulevard, a two-lane roadway eastward from Pine Beach, Alabama 182 intersects the south end of Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) near downtown Gulf Shores. There the state highway widens to five overall lanes and becomes en route to Gulf State Park and Orange Beach. Alabama 182 becomes Perdido Beach Boulevard east of the Gulf State Park/Orange Beach corporate limit to Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) and the transition to Florida 292 at Perdido Key. A high-level bridge exists along Alabama 182 over the Intracoastal Waterway inlet into Perdido Bay. Alabama 182 dates back to 1951.2 Alabama @ SouthEastRoads - Alabama 182 State Park Road 2 loops east Lake Shelby within Gulf State Park between Alabama 182 (East Gulf Shores Boulevard) and Alabama 135. State Park Road 2 eastbound as it departs Alabama 135 for Lake Shelby. Newberry Drive provides access from Park Road 2 to Lake Shelby and Campground Road serves the camping areas of the state park midway between here and Alabama 182 (Gulf Shores Boulevard). Photo taken 05/16/04. The east end of State Park Road 2 occurs at a signalized intersection with Alabama 182 (Gulf Shores Boulevard). To the right is Alabama 135, Gulf Shores, and Alabama 59. To the left Gulf Shores Boulevard enters the Orange Beach corporate limits one mile to the east. Photo taken 05/16/04. Sources: 1 - FoleyBeachExpress.com 2 - Alabama State Route Numbers Index (Dan Cole) Page Updated July 6, 2004.