State Route 161 - Orange Beach Boulevard
Alabama State Route 161 is a 1.72 mile long connector between SR 182 along the Gulf of Mexico and SR 180 west in Orange Beach. Named Orange Beach Boulevard, the arterial is four lanes wide with a center turn lane.
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) purchased the Foley Beach Express toll bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway (Portage Creek) from the Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC) in May 2024. The acquisition coincides with the removal of tolls and includes all of the Foley Beach Express north to Foley and the Baldwin Beach Express from there to Interstate 10 at Exit 49. The change in maintenance results in an extension of State Route 161 north from SR 180 to I-10. SR 180 along Canal Road west from Orange Beach Boulevard to the Foley Beach Express also becomes part of the extended SR 161. (Cooper, 2024).
Never realized plans discussed extending Orange Beach Boulevard northward across Wolf Bay on a new toll bridge. As envisioned, the corridor would extend north to U.S. 98 and perhaps I-10 in eastern Baldwin County. Private investors lobbied in 2004 for a tolled two lane span extending northward from SR 161 across Wolf Bay to CR 95. Had it been approved, ground breaking on the project was thought to get underway between 2006 and 2008. Discussions on the new bridge continued through 2011.
State Route 161 was designated in 1948.
North
SR 161 curves northeast around Cotton Bayou between SR 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard) and Cotton Bayou Drive.
08/02/06
Marina Drive stems east from SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) to a boat ramp at Terry Cove opposite Campground Road west to Gulf State Park.
08/02/06
Northbound SR 161 at Terry Cove Drive east. Terry Cove Drive spurs east to serve a number of residences west of Terry Cove.
08/02/06
SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) advances north to the intersection with SR 180 (Canal Road) west. Formerly part of SR 180, Canal Road spurs east to East Orange Beach and Caswell on a peninsula between Arnica Bay and Bayou St. John.
08/02/06
SR 161 replaces SR 180 west along Canal Road three miles from Orange Beach Boulevard to the Foley Beach Express north at The Wharf. Spanning Portage Creek, the Foley Beach Express provides a more direct route to Foley in lieu of SR 59.
08/02/06
SR 161 formerly ended at SR 180 (Canal Road) in Orange Beach. SR 180 stretches west to Fort Morgan while Canal Road leads east to Perdido Bay.
08/02/06
South
SR 161 south of Canal Road (former SR 180) in Orange Beach.
05/16/04
Traffic signal on SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) southbound at Marina Road east and Campground Road west. Marina Drive spurs east to a boat ramp on Terry Cove while Campground provides local access to Gulf State Park.
05/16/04
SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) south ends at the upcoming intersection with SR 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard).
05/16/04
SR 182 travels west to Romar Beach, Gulf State Park, and Gulf Shores and east to Perdido Pass and Perdido Key, Florida. Formerly SR 292, the coastal route continues northeast to Warrington and Pensacola.
08/24/03
The Shoppes at Paradise Pointe retail complex was added at the northwest corner of SR 161 and SR 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard) by 2009.
05/16/04
References:
- Cooper, R. K. (2024, April 18). End of tolls on beach express bridge coming soon. Orange Beach News. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://www.obawebsite.com/aldot-set-to-acquire-beach-express-bridge-for-60m.
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 05/16/04, 08/02/06
- Alex Nitzman, Justin Cozart: 08/24/03
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Page Updated Wednesday May 01, 2024.