Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft is encouraged by what he’s hearing about a new bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway but is still cautious about the prospect of the bridge coming.

“I have not really gotten to the point where I believe it is a final, final decision,” Craft said.

His comments came at the end of the Sept. 19 city council work session during the mayor’s updates portion of the meeting. The bridge project is on ALDOT’s bid letting list for Sept. 30 but this is the third time it has been on the list. It was posted then pulled from the bid list in July and December of 2021.

“Obviously, the bids will come in toward the end of the month,” Craft said. “Whenever they post it and get their bids, they’ll have a better understanding of their reaction to that.”

He revealed that the Alabama Department of Transportation had meetings in the area on Sept. 20 and he believes those talks could involve the two beach express roadways.

“I do know that ALDOT is meeting with Baldwin County and Foley tomorrow,” Craft said. “It is my assumption that they are talking about the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin Beach Express. It is certainly the impression that Director (John) Cooper has given to us that if he is going to build a bridge, they are going to have to take over those roads. That conversation is going on and we'll see how that goes.”

He also expressed concerns about continuing talks between ALDOT and the bridge company and those talks are why he’s still not convinced the bridge is imminent.

“That conversation is going on and we'll see how that goes,” Craft said. “I cannot believe that all of the negotiations are over I’m hopeful that this is the final decision. I’m as curious as all of you are to at least know what we are doing. Hopefully, it’s heading in the right direction.”