Foley_Beach_Express
Foley Beach Express (FBE) is a 14.0-mile-long (22.5 km) limited-access[2] two- to four-lane highway near the beaches of Baldwin County and the Gulf of Mexico in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It serves as an alternate route for the heavily traveled State Route 59 (SR 59) in nearby Gulf Shores.[2] The southern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with SR 180 in the northwestern part of Orange Beach. The northern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with SR 59 in the far north part of Foley. The extreme southern portion of the highway is part of Alabama's Coastal Connection, a National Scenic Byway.[3]
The bridge near the southern terminus on the FBE is a comparably quicker connection with the Alabama mainland. It shaves off miles and minutes from crossing the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at SR 59 in Gulf Shores.[4] The bridge was owned by American Roads and was in danger of bankruptcy in 2013, due to American Roads' $830 million debt from the FBE and other toll roads it owned. Syncora Guarantee eventually became the new owner.[5]
In 2024, the Alabama Department of Transportation bought the bridge and abolished tolls on May 23.