Thread: Road through the park CLOSED!

From Gulf Shores Municipal Government FB post:

State Highway 135 through Gulf State Park will undergo necessary improvements and repairs from Sept. 24 until Christmas Eve. The road will be closed to all vehicles, hikers and bikers beginning Sept. 24, but will reopen Oct. 9-14 during the 48th Annual National Shrimp Festival. The work being done during the closure will include a shift of the center line, re-striping, and installing a federally approved railing system, and repairs to the bridge. When the road reopens, users will see a further separation of vehicles from pedestrian and bike lanes.
“These improvements demonstrate the state’s commitment to invest in the Coastal Alabama region,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Our expectation for the project is the enhancement of the overall experience for our Gulf State Park and Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area visitors. We apologize for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause.”
“We are pleased that the contractors and project managers for these improvements worked with us to make the road accessible during the Shrimp Festival,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft “And, we have been assured that the time frame for the closure of the road is a ‘worst-case scenario,’ and with good weather the road should reopen sooner than Christmas Eve.”
With the closure, all through traffic will be detoured via Highway 59 to East Beach Boulevard (Highway 182). Gulf State Park campground visitors must access the campground via Highway 59 to East Beach Boulevard and enter from the south. Orange Beach traffic should consider using East Canal Drive to Highway 161 as an alternate route.

I hope they will improve the parking situation at the 'weir'!

Don't understand why they are doing this now when the rumor is going around that the pier is going to be closed for 2-3 months for installing new deck boards. Why not do it then.

Originally Posted by Robert(Tato)Piteo

Don't understand why they are doing this now when the rumor is going around that the pier is going to be closed for 2-3 months for installing new deck boards. Why not do it then.

Because that would make too much sense.

I hope they do not close off access to the weir.

They will no one will have access not even pedestrians.

Granted the timing isn't great but that road badly needs all those repairs/upgrades and more. There would probably not be a time slot that would please everyone, I'm just happy that it's getting done. If you've ever come around one of those curves in a large vehicle and met a tractor trailer( why are they even allowed on that road puzzles me no end) or a truck pulling a huge travel trailer you'd be happy also.

Same for the pier, it has to be done. People are getting injured there every day-I'd rather get it over with than be put in limbo due to a lawsuit. Alexander Shunarah is out there...

What is the projective closure of the pier ?

I sent Lamar an Email and he said they were waiting on some type of Grant money to be approved and as soon as they got it the repairs would start. Lets just hope they are through before the fishing heats back up next Spring.

Let's hope they don't close the pier in October!!!