Work begins on the $ 16.9 million Intracoastal launch pad west of Foley Beach Express
Baldwin County and State to make ICW launch a reality by summer 2022
By Fran Thompson
Governor Kay Ivey was at Orange Beach on June 16 to remove soil from the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway and to signal the start of construction of a new boat launch on the north shore of the Intracoastal Waterway that elected officials qualified as “transformational”.
The 47-acre launch will be located on Brown Lane, just west of the Beach Express Toll Bridge. it will include more than 1,700 feet of waterfront, six boat launching ramps, parking for boats and cars, and amenities such as hiking trails, bridges and fishing docks.
The launch at ICW is expected to be completed by Memorial Day 2022.
“I’m excited about what this will do for Orange Beach and the whole state,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said before shoveling the dirt.
Baldwin County will provide $ 6.9 million in GOMESA funds to support the project. The remaining $ 10 million will come from Alabama’s share of GOMESA funds, including $ 7.5 million for the acquisition of the property.
Specifically, the project will include 200 lighted parking spaces for boats and trailers, 84 lighted passenger car spaces and six covered pavilions with picnic tables.
There will be over half a mile of sidewalks and boardwalks in the launch and pavilion areas, a large 20-by-30-foot pavilion, and eight restrooms.
The grand opening of the launch at ICW comes after more than four years of planning, led by Orange Beach City Council and the Baldwin County Commission.
“It’s not just the impact it will have on the boating public here, but the impact on others in the county who have boat launches in their neighborhoods and are putting enormous pressure on them. Baldwin County Commission Chairman Joe Davis said.
OB Mayor Tony Kennon agreed, saying the new facility couldn’t be built soon enough as the city’s current boat launches are taxed beyond maximum capacity.
“We park trucks and boat trailers at Town Hall because they don’t have room to park. So that’s a godsend, ”said Mayor Kennon. “These are the beaches of Alabama. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the custodians of these beaches. And we recognize the value to the whole state. ”
Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of Al. Dept. of Conservation, said the launch will be the largest on the Alabama coast and among the state’s largest public access points.
“Public access has been a priority since I became commissioner,” he said. “Public boat launches, public hunting grounds and other recreational fishing piers, trails and blue paths are important for people to get out and enjoy the beauty and what God has in us. richly blessed here in Alabama.
“We are so lucky to live in one of the greatest places in the world,” he added. “With its spectacular beaches, diverse islands and waterways, the world’s best artificial reef program, and excellent coastal and offshore fishing, the demand for public boating access is peaking here.”
Blankenship said the launch will have an economic impact on Baldwin State and County.
“To develop the economy of the outdoor industry, we need to have more public access. With boat launching ramps like this and more places we have where people will put their boats, people will buy more boats and spend their money in the economy. It’s very important, ” he said.
Funding for the project comes solely from oil and gas rental revenues that Alabama receives through the Gulf of Mexico Safety Act (GOMESA).
“The GOMESA awards that we have given to Baldwin and Mobile counties are so important to this part of the state,” said Ivey. “I am happy to have this resource available to us.
Alabama receives $ 40 million from GOMESA funds. In addition, Mobile County receives $ 5.5 million and Baldwin County $ 4.6 million.
Alabama is one of four states that were designated to receive 37.5% of GOMESA funds when it was enacted in 2006. The governor is the only one empowered to approve GOMESA projects, along with Al. Dept. of Conservation administering these funds.
“It’s one of the best projects I’ve been involved with since I’ve been in the county. I am also excited about this as I am building the Baldwin Beach Express. It’s going to be a really nice, much needed boat launch and it can’t be done fast enough, ”Baldwin County Engineer Joey Nunnally told the Mullet Wrapper when the final plans for the project came out. been approved.
County commissioners caused a stir when they announced their intention to purchase the land on the Intracoastal Waterway to build the boat launch in 2018.
At the time, then County Commissioner Chris Elliott was running in the State Senate District 32 Republican primary against Orange Beach City Councilor Jeff Boyd and David Northcutt, with Boyd finishing in third place in the primary.
The mayor of Orange Beach said at the time that the announcement of the project was a way to tip the votes in favor of Elliott and would never be built.
“I would like to apologize to Senator Elliott because you have seriously helped make this happen and I am sorry,” Mayor Kennon said at the inauguration. “I appreciate him more than you think. “
Elliott rose from his chair and hugged Kennon after these remarks.
“Great cooperation between the City of Orange Beach, the Baldwin County Commission and state officials to make this project a reality,” Elliott said when construction funds were released. “I would particularly like to thank the commissioner of the DCNR Blankenship for his strong advocacy in favor of this project. “
When the project was first announced in 2018, the plans were even grander. Officials said there will be room for 12 boat launching ramps with parking for around 450 trailers and another 50 places for vehicles.
Orange Beach wanted something more manageable.
“At the start it was too big and we thought it would be a real problem there with the bridge. It’s about 150 places. I think it will be a good addition and the right size in the right place, ”said Mayor Kennon.
“I believe this will become a cornerstone property. Many of our future projects concern connectivity to the north, ”he added at the inauguration. “We have wonderful plans for hiking and biking trails and ecotourism. It will be the keystone of this effort. ”
Pictured: rendered plans for a new boat launch on 47 acres of county property on the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach; Governor Ivey, Orange Beach City Council and City Manager Ken Grimes on site.