Gulf Shores to pay for sidewalks, bike paths in beach road repaving and another entrance to Gulf State Park Pier

Gulf Shores to pay for sidewalks, bike paths in beach road repaving and another entrance to Gulf State Park Pier
By John Mullen
Something just wasn’t right about the plan to resurface beach road near the new Gulf State Park lodge and a redesign of the intersection of Alabama 135.
“It was evident in dealing with the folks at the state park and the design team down there that they don’t really understand Gulf Shores and Orange Beach traffic,” Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said.
“When we looked at what they designed down there it was very obvious to those of us who live here that it wouldn’t work.”
On Monday, June 25, the council will vote to spend from $200,000-$250,000 to improve access to the lodge and the State Park Pier during an Alabama Department of Transportation resurfacing of beach road in the upcoming offseason. The road will be resurfaced from the Gulf Shores city limits on the east to West Lagoon Avenue. West Beach Boulevard from West Lagoon to its end at Laguna Key was resurfaced by ALDOT during this past offseason.
Craft said the plan to incorporate the entrance of the lodge with the entrance to the pier just didn’t seem workable.
Gulf Shores is considering hiring Volkert Engineering to do the redesign work on the intersection as well as design another entrance to the pier west of the intersection.
“The only way to get that fixed, and it’s in the city limits of Gulf Shores, the only way to get this fixed is for us to fix it,” Craft said.
Volkert will get about $58,000 to design the project and it will cost between $400,000 and $500,000 to build. ALDOT as agreed to pay half the costs of the work.
“All in all I think it will really help and it will definitely make it easier for people to get out of the lodge and make it easier for people to get back into the heart of Gulf Shores,” J.J. Miller of Volkert told the council.
Included in the project will be bike lanes and sidewalks from the city limits east connecting to the city’s recently completed similar project on East Beach Boulevard. The pathways will be added to both sides of the road.
“We’re very fortunate and the timing is just right for us to get out ahead like you had us do in the heart of town with the median and sidewalk work we put in prior to ALDOT resurfacing,” City Administrator Steve Griffin said. “This work will get us ahead in the state park while we resurface.”
Also Discussed During The Work Session:
The surplus of hundreds of items ranging from automobiles, sports equipment, office equipment, landscaping tools and golf carts, among others. The items are available for review at the Public Works Department on West 36th Avenue and will be in an online auction from July 9 through July 23 on govdeals.com.
A recommendation from IT Officer Mike Hawley to accept a bid of about $54,000 from CMA Technology Solutions for a storage controller and storage area network (SAN) expansion to accommodate the rapidly growing amount of data – primarily surveillance camera footage.
Acceptance of a proposal from Neel-Shafer for $12,500 to provide plans and specifications to address minor deficiencies noted in the city’s bi-annual bridge inspections. The inspections are required on city bridges and box culverts.
Acceptance of a bid for $224,000 for street paving in 2018. Streets on the list are West 19th Avenue from Highway 59 to West First Street, West Ninth Street, Sea Esta Court, Dotson Street, Franz Street, Barganier Lane, Lowery Lane, Frith Avenue and an ALDOT parking replacement near Hog Wild Barbecue and Anchor Vacations on Alabama 59
Award awarding a storm drain and culvert cleaning contract to Pipe Services of South Alabama on an as-needed basis but in an amount not to exceed $47,775, including inlet cleaning at $225 and video recording at $175 an hour.
An assembly permit for a “Gulf Shores Goes Pink” day on Oct. 1 at Fire Station No. 1 for the South Baldwin Women’s Club to kick off breast cancer awareness month. Publix is providing the food, firefighters will man the grill and donations will go to the South Alabama Guardians of the Ribbon: Pink Heals. The group raises money to help local families with loved ones battling cancer.
Transferring the liquor license for Staybridge Suites from CPSW Investments, LLC to Shree Vikat Hospitality. Staybridge is on Alabama 59 just south of County Road 6 behind the Island Wing Company shopping center.