The route known locally as the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin Beach Express has become an essential artery for transportation in Baldwin County, Alabama. Serving as a primary corridor connecting Interstate 10 to the popular Gulf Coast beaches, this highway has seen a dramatic increase in utilization as it functions as a crucial alternative to the heavily traveled Highway 59.
The popularity of the Beach Express corridor has accelerated significantly following major administrative and infrastructural changes in 2024. Most notably, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) purchased the privately owned toll bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway and immediately eliminated tolls. Construction is completed on the new Intracoastal Waterway Bridge, which provides traffic access to Canal Road utilizing a roundabout.
The removal of fees triggered an immediate and substantial shift in traffic patterns. Reports from ALDOT indicated that between 6,000 and 8,000 additional vehicles began using the Beach Express daily following the change. By June 2024, traffic on the Beach Express had grown by 44% compared to the previous year, while traffic counts on the competing SR-59 route decreased, demonstrating the corridor’s success in providing a more balanced flow of vehicles to the coast. During the summer of 2025, ALDOT data confirmed this trend continued, with the SR-161 corridor (the official state designation for the full Beach Express route) absorbing a significantly higher share of the summer travel demand than Highway 59.
The corridor continues to undergo improvements to handle this rising popularity. Following the transfer of the highway to ALDOT in 2025, the state took over responsibility for maintenance and repairs, ensuring long-term care for the road. Despite the official designation of the highway as Alabama 161, local authorities have ensured that the familiar “Foley Beach Express” name remains valid for addressing purposes, preserving the cultural and historical identity of the route.
The expressway is actively serving as the primary spine for new commercial, industrial, and residential development in South Baldwin County. As the region experiences rapid growth, this corridor has emerged as the central point for economic investment, creating a “development-ready” landscape that attracts employers and residents alike.
A significant driver of this growth is the City of Foley’s recent, state-supported expansion. Foley has successfully acquired 121 acres located near the intersection of the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin Beach Express to develop a new industrial park. This project, which was supported by a $3.33 million grant from the Alabama Industrial Development Authority’s Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program, is a direct response to the limited space available in the city’s current industrial park.
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