Alabama State Route 180 constitutes one of two highways traveling west to east along the coastal area of south Baldwin County. Beginning at historic Fort Morgan, the route stretches 28.36 miles east along Fort Morgan Peninsula from Bon Secour Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf Shores. The acquisition of the Foley Beach Express by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) in May 2024 includes extending SR 161 north from Orange Beach Boulevard to Interstate 10 at Exit 49. This replaces SR 180 along Canal Road between the Foley Beach Express and the current east end at SR 161 south in Orange Beach. Prior to January 2019, when maintenance of Canal Road east of SR 161 was transferred to the city of Orange Beach, SR 180 extended another 3.825 miles.
Once within the Gulf Shores street grid, SR 180 turns northward from Fort Morgan Road onto E 2nd Street to make the connection with Canal Drive along the Intracoastal Waterway (Portage Creek). The two lane road continues east to Orange Beach and the south end of Foley Beach Express. Rapid growth east of the toll bridge increases SR 180 into a busy arterial to SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard). The bulk of traffic turns south to the beaches while Canal Road (former SR 180) extends to residential areas east of Caswell.
|
| The first SR 180 shield follows the exit of Dixie Graves Parkway from Fort Morgan State Park. The next SR 180 shield appears 20 miles east at SR 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) in Gulf Shores.
The painted median, guard house and associated road widening were removed after 2006. 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway) exits the Fort Morgan Unit of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. A mix of protected marshlands, condos, marinas and beach homes dot the landscape along Fort Morgan Peninsula on SR 180. 08/02/06 |
|
| Continuing east along Dixie Graves Parkway southeast of St. Andrews Bay after Privateer Court. 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 becomes Fort Morgan Road north of Little Lagoon to SR 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). 08/02/06 |
|
| Mast-arm supported traffic lights replaced a span wire signal assembly by 2006 at SR 59 and 180. SR 59 ends 1.1 miles to the south at SR 182 (Beach Boulevard) by the main public beach of Gulf Shores. Northward the state route meets U.S. 98 at Downtown Foley in ten miles. 08/02/06 |
|
| Eastbound shield for SR 180 posted on the final stretch of Fort Morgan Road between SR 59 and SR 135. A traffic signal follows at an entrance to Wal-mart. 06/13/10 |
|
| SR 135 formerly began at the northward turn taking SR 180 onto E 2nd Street at Gulf State Park. Decommissioned in 2016, the state route encircled Shelby Lakes, connecting SR 180 with SR 182 (Beach Boulevard). 06/13/10 |
|
| SR 135 traveled 2.1 miles southeast from SR 180 through Gulf State Park. SR 135 appeared on the state highway map as SR 138 by 1948, at the same time SR 180 east of SR 59 (then SR 3) was numbered SR 160. Changes to the current numbering system were made by 1957. 06/13/10 |
|
| Traveling northbound on SR 180 (East Second Street) beyond State Park Road (old SR 135). A second Foley Beach Express trailblazer was posted (removed by March 2009) along SR 180 eastbound for the Intracoastal waterway toll bridge and four lane expressway from Orange Beach northward to SR 59 near Summerdale. 05/16/04 |
|
| 20th Avenue provides an alternate route to SR 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) from the north-south alignment of SR 180 on East 2nd Street. Beyond 20th Avenue, 21st to 24th Avenues either end or pass under Gulf Shores Parkway to the west. 05/16/04 |
|
| Reassurance shield and trailblazer assembly for SR 180 east and the Foley Beach Express posted along East 2nd Street north after 21st Avenue. The 2000-opened Foley Beach Express provides a second route to the Baldwin County mainland. 05/16/04 |
|
| SR 180 takes an abrupt right turn from East Second Street to Canal Drive at the Intracoastal Waterway. An abutment remains at the curve from where a bridge once connected to Baldwin County Road 4 north of the canal. The adjacent SR 59 bridge opened in 1972. 05/16/04 |
|
| SR 180 (Canal Drive) straddles the Intracoastal Waterway eastward from Gulf Shores into Orange Beach. 05/16/04 |
|
| Interstate 10 and 65 trailblazers posted at the onset of the Foley Beach Express southern terminus along SR 180 eastbound. The two lane span across the Intracoastal Waterway (Portage Creek) includes a toll charged for all passenger vehicles. The connection with SR 59 north from Foley guides motorists to Interstates 10 and 65.
Construction commenced in 2009 on the Baldwin Beach Express extension of the four lane corridor along CR 28 and 83. 08/24/03 |
|
| The upcoming traffic light represents the south end of the Express. The toll plaza for the bridge over Portage Creek lies north of waterway. From that point onward, the Foley Beach Express expands to four lanes with a wide grassy median. There are no interchanges along the highway and some businesses and residences have appeared adjacent to the route since its opening in 2000. 08/24/03 |
|
| SR 180 (Canal Road) eastbound at the Foley Beach Express. The north-south road travels 17.5 miles between Canal Road and SR 59 near Summerdale. Vehicles carrying hazardous materials are prohibited from using the two lane span. 05/16/04 |
|
| SR 180 (Canal Road) concludes at the north end of SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) in Orange Beach. SR 161 follows Orange Beach Boulevard south 1.72 miles to SR 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard) east of Gulf State Park. 08/24/03 |
|
| SR 161 constitutes a five lane boulevard south to a condo-heavy stretch of SR 182 between Romar Beach and Perdido Pass. Plastic pylons were added to allow traffic turning south onto Orange Beach Boulevard a free flow movement. 05/16/04 |
|
| Prior to January 2019, SR 180 continued another 3.8 miles along Canal Road to Caswell on a peninsula surrounded by Arnica Bay, Perdido Bay and Bayou St. John. A series of ends signs marked the end beginning at Pompano Avenue. 08/02/06 |
|
| Former end sign for SR 180 along Canal Road at Florida Avenue. 08/02/06 |
|
| The previous end sign for SR 180 was posted at the Canal Road intersection with Mississippi Avenue and Perdido Gate Drive. 08/02/06 |
|
| The former westbound beginning of SR 180 on Canal Road at the intersection with Mississippi Avenue east of the Caswell community. 08/02/06 |
|
| Canal Road west at SR 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) and the beginning of SR 180. 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 (Canal Road) expands into a busy three-lane arterial between SR 161 and the Foley Beach Express. 08/02/06 |
|
| Canal Road gains a north side frontage road (Commercial Way) between Oak Street and Spinnaker Way. Strip mall type development lines the service road before and after the signalized intersection with Gulf Bay Road north. 08/02/06 |
|
| Guide signs direct motorists to the Foley Beach Express along SR 161 north from SR 182 west onto SR 180 to the Intracoastal Waterway toll bridge. The Baldwin Beach Express provides a direct route from the Foley Beach Express to Interstate 10. 08/02/06 |
|
| The Wharf is a mixed-used community built north of SR 180 (Canal Road) at the Foley Beach Express. The mid-2000s development added three traffic lights to SR 180, the first with Wharf Parkway East. 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 (Canal Road) widens to four lanes on the south side of The Wharf. A signalized intersection joins Main Street, the main entry point into the adjacent development, with Canal Road in this scene. 08/02/06 |
|
| Westbound SR 180 (Canal Road) at the northbound beginning of the Foley Beach Express. The toll road initially carries just two lanes northward across the Intracoastal Waterway. Drivers turning north here may also access Wharf Lane east before committing to the toll bridge. 08/02/06 |
|
| One final access point to The Wharf follows the Foley Beach Express on SR 180 west at Wharf Parkway north. 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 (Canal Road) lines the Intracoastal Waterway after Beaver Creek Lane to Gulf State Park and the city limits of Gulf Shores. 08/02/06 |
|
| Canal Drive carries SR 180 west to East 2nd Street. A stop sign is posted for the left turn onto East 2nd Street south. A bridge once connected with the East 2nd Street alignment north of the Intracoastal. 08/02/06 |
|
| Five blocks south on East 2nd Street is the signalized intersection with East 20th and Dolphin Avenues. Motorists bound for SR 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) north to Foley should use 20th Avenue to make the connection. 08/02/06 |
|
| Continuing south on E 2nd Street and SR 180 between E 20th and 16th Avenues. 08/02/06 |
|
| Decommissioned in 2016, SR 135 looped from E Second Street southeast through Gulf State Park to SR 182 (Beach Boulevard). The 2.1 mile long route encircled western reaches of Shelby Lakes between SR 180 and the Gulf State Park Pier. 05/16/04 |
|
| Maintenance of SR 135 was transferred from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on November 18, 2016. SR 135 was named to State Park Road. 05/16/04 |
|
| Following Fort Morgan Road away from State Park Road toward SR 59. The succeeding traffic light on SR 180 west is at a Wal-mart entrance. 08/02/06 |
|
| One quarter mile west of SR 135 at SR 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) on SR 180 (Fort Morgan Road). SR 59 constitutes a five lane arterial between SR 182 (Beach Boulevard) and Foley. The state route provides the only free crossing of the Intracoastal Waterway to the Baldwin County mainland. 05/16/04, 08/02/06 |
|
| The final westbound SR 180 shield appears 20 miles out from Fort Morgan as the state route leaves SR 59 in Gulf Shores. The combination of Fort Morgan Road and Dixie Graves Parkway is also designated Fort Morgan Parkway. 08/02/06 |
|
| A scene along SR 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway) westbound between Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan. For the most part the highway offers a 55 MPH speed limit as it travels through forest, marshland, and a hodgepodge of beach home communities. 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 straddles or passes through three units of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge between sections of Gulf Shores city limit and the end at Fort Morgan State Park. 05/16/04, 08/02/06 |
|
| SR 180 officially ends at the entrance to Fort Morgan State Park. Dixie Graves Parkway continues to the Mobile Bay Ferry and Fort Morgan within the park. Since this photo was taken, the guard house was removed and the widened stretch of roadway was reconfigured into a two lane highway. A pay station for the park now follows the ferry launch entrance. 05/16/04 |
|
| Three quarters of a mile west of the park entrance, Dixie Graves Parkway reaches the Mobile Bay Ferry launch area on Mobile Bay. The ferry connects Fort Morgan with the east end of Dauphin Island in Mobile County. Ferries shuttle vehicles back and forth approximately every 1.5 hours and service runs between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The trip takes about 45 minutes.
Fort Morgan follows in one half mile. Constructed between 1819 and 1834, the large brick fort at Mobile Point played a vital role during the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War in 1964. The fortress later served in the Spanish-American War and both world wars. 08/02/06 |
Page Updated 07-03-2020.
East
