A dedicated walk-and-bike crossing over the Intracoastal — so Waterway Village stays connected when Highway 59 takes the sidewalks off the Holmes Bridge.
Hey locals and beach dreamers! If you have driven past Waterway Village lately, you have seen the towers. That is the Waterway Village Pedestrian Bridge — a City of Gulf Shores project to put pedestrians and cyclists on their own crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway, instead of sharing the W.C. Holmes Bridge with Highway 59 traffic.
The official project page is here: Waterway Village Pedestrian Bridge on the city’s Engage site. Construction is already well underway. The city’s September 25 update says the towers are rising quickly and the structure is on track to open in Spring 2027.
Why the City Is Building It
Highway 59 is expanding. When that work finishes, the existing pedestrian lanes come off the Holmes Bridge so those lanes can become vehicle traffic. Without a new crossing, walking or biking between the north and south sides of Waterway Village gets harder — and less safe — right as the district is trying to become more walkable.
The pedestrian bridge is the answer. Official scope from the city:
- A safe, dedicated pedestrian and bicycle crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway
- A link between neighborhoods, businesses, and public spaces on both sides of Gulf Shores
- Separation of people on foot and on bikes from busy roadways
- More foot traffic to local businesses and events
- A waterfront landmark, not just a sidewalk in the air
What It Will Look Like
The span sits about 75 feet over the ICW, next to Alabama 180 / East 2nd Street — the stretch that already holds Tacky Jack’s, Acme Oyster House, and Big Beach Brewing on the south side and LuLu’s on the north. AL.com described it as connecting the southern entertainment end of Waterway Village to the northern end.
Each landing gets a tower with stairs and an elevator. Each stairwell has 144 steps. The elevators are freight-sized — large enough for at least three bicyclists and three pedestrians at once — with a generator if the power goes out. Decorative lighting was added in June 2026 so the structure reads as a landmark after dark, not only a crossing.
Separate from the bridge itself, the city is designing pedestrian plazas at the north and south landings — restrooms, shade, seating, viewing areas, and event space. The September 25 city update says those plaza parks are aiming to open around the same time as the bridge. Street work along East 2nd / Gulf Pines is also in design: reconstructed roadway, more sidewalks, on-street parking, lighting, and amenities on both sides of the crossing.
Money and Timeline
The Engage page lists $7.9 million in BUILD Grant funding and $13.5 million from the general fund. Published construction figures for the bridge have been in the $24 million range, with plazas funded separately (including a $3.6 million GOMESA award for the park pieces). Harrison Construction is the bridge contractor.
City contract dates have pointed to a finish no later than mid-January 2027. The latest public update from September 25 puts opening in Spring 2027. Treat that as the working window and check the Engage page or city news flashes before you plan an event around it.
Questions for the city go to Capital Projects: (251) 968-2425 or ccolvin@gulfshoresal.gov.
Why This Matters for Gulf Shores Real Estate
Buyers do not only buy a floor plan. They buy how easy it is to live here without getting in the car for every meal. Waterway Village is one of the few places in Gulf Shores that already feels like a district — restaurants, the waterway, events, and neighborhoods stacked on both banks. The missing piece has always been a safe way to cross the canal on foot.
When that crossing opens, the north side and the south side start to function as one walkable pocket instead of two destinations split by a busy bridge. That is good for restaurants. It is good for anyone who owns or wants a home, condo, or townhome within walking distance of East 2nd Street. And it is good for the larger story we keep telling buyers: Gulf Shores is investing in year-round infrastructure, not only beach-season traffic.
The Highway 59 piece matters too. More vehicle capacity on Holmes, plus a separate path for people, is the combination that keeps Waterway Village from feeling like a bottleneck. Properties that sit close to a walkable district usually hold demand better than properties that only work if every guest drives.
If you already own nearby, watch how the plazas, lighting, and East 2nd streetscape come together. If you are shopping, walk both sides of the waterway now and picture the span between them. That is the version of this neighborhood the city is building toward.
Let’s Talk Coastal Living
Whether you want to be in the middle of Waterway Village or a short drive from it, I live here and I work here. I can help you look at what is available now and what this crossing is likely to change once people can walk it.
Call or text me at 251-233-9790 or email Lorraine@gulfshoresconnect.com.
— Lorraine Gatti, The Gatti Team
Gulf Shores • Orange Beach
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