Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Alabama 180 Alabama 180 is one of two coastal routes in southern Baldwin County. The state highway begins at historic Fort Morgan at the south end of Mobile Bay. There a ferry route connects Alabama 180 with Mobile County 2 at the east end of Dauphin Island. To the east, condominium high rises dot the landscape of the narrow spit of land between Fort Morgan and the city of Gulf Shores. From Cedar Grove eastward, Alabama 180 veers inland toward Alabama 59. Alabama 182 straddles the coastline south of Alabama 180 at this point. To the north Alabama 180 follows Canal Road eastward to the city of Orange Beach. Counties: Baldwin Alabama 180 East The first Alabama 180 shield resides just east of the Fort Morgan State Park entrance on the Fort Morgan Peninsula. The next Alabama 180 shield resides 20 miles east at Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) in Gulf Shores. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway) eastbound at junction Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). Alabama 59 begins 1.1 miles to the south at Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard) at the Gulf of Mexico itself. Northward the state highway meets U.S. 98 and downtown Foley in ten miles. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 turns northward from the Dixie Graves Parkway onto East Second Street at Gulf State Park. Alabama 135 begins east from Dixie Graves Parkway into the park itself to Lake Shelby and Alabama 182 (Gulf Shores Boulevard). No signs are posted at present for Alabama 135 on Alabama 180 eastbound. Photo taken 05/16/04. Traveling northbound on Alabama 180 (East Second Street) beyond the Alabama 135 northern terminal. A second Foley Beach Express trailblazer is posted along Alabama 180 eastbound for the Intracoastal waterway toll bridge and four-lane expressway from Orange Beach northward to Alabama 59 near Summerdale. Photo taken 05/16/04. Eastbound Alabama 180 (East Second Street) at East 16th Avenue. A city street grid is in place in Gulf Shores to provide several cross streets between Alabama 180 and nearby Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). Photo taken 05/16/04. Continuing northward along East Second Street near East 23rd Avenue on Alabama 180 east. The 2000 opening of the Foley Beach Express provides a second route between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach to the Baldwin County mainland. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 takes an abrupt right-hand turn from East Second Street to Canal Drive at the Intracoastal waterway itself. An abutment remains at the curve from where a bridge once connected to Baldwin County 4 north of the canal. Photo taken 05/16/04. The scene of Alabama 180 (Canal Road) eastbound along the Intracoastal waterway in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Photo taken 05/16/04. Interstate 10 and 65 trailblazers posted at the onset of the Foley Beach Express southern terminus along Alabama 180 eastbound. The Foley Beach Express is a four lane expressway north of Perdido Bay. The span across the bay itself is two lanes and carries a $2 toll for passenger vehicles. The connection with Alabama 59 north of the town of Foley guides motorists to Interstates 10 and 65. Photo taken 08/24/03. The upcoming traffic light represents the south end of the Express. The toll plaza for the bridge over Perdido Bay is situated to the north of waterway. From that point northward, the Foley Beach Express expands to four lanes and attains a grassy median. There are no interchanges along the route, but access is controlled. Photo taken 08/24/03. Alabama 180 (Canal Road) eastbound at the Foley Beach Express. The north-south road travels 17.5 miles between Canal Road and junction Alabama 59 near Summerdale. Vehicles carrying hazardous materials are prohibited from using the two-lane span. Photo taken 05/16/04. Nearing the northern terminus of Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) along Alabama 180 eastbound in the city of Orange Beach. This 1.7 mile highway travels southward to Alabama 182 and Gulf State Park. Alabama 161 is the third and last state highway to connect Alabama 180 and 182. Photo taken 08/24/03. Alabama 180 eastbound at Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) south. Traffic is heavy during the summer season due to beach goers and tourists and sometimes Orange Beach police will direct traffic through this traffic light. Ahead Alabama 180 continues along Canal Road to the community of Caswell. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 continues another 3.8 miles along Canal Road beyond Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) on a peninsula. The residential route draws to a close with a series of ends signs beginning at Baldwin Avenue. Photo taken 05/16/04. End sign for Alabama 180 posted 500 feet from the terminus at Florida Avenue on Canal Road. Photo taken 05/16/04. The end sign for Alabama 180 resides at the Canal Road intersection with Mississippi Avenue and Perdido Gate Drive. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 West The westbound beginning of Alabama 180 on Canal Road at the intersection with Mississippi Avenue and Perdido Gate Drive near the Caswell community. Photo taken 05/16/04. 3.8 miles west of its beginning, Alabama 180 (Canal Road) intersects the northern terminus of Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard). Orange Beach Boulevard consists of a five-lane arterial 1.7 miles between Alabama 180 and Alabama 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard). Photo taken 05/16/04. Entering the intersection with Alabama 161 (Orange Beach Boulevard) on Alabama 180 westbound. Alabama 161 carries traffic to Alabama 182 and Florida 292 for Perdido Key and West Pensacola. Photo taken 05/16/04. Alabama 180 westbound curves from East Second Street to Dixie Graves Parkway at the north end of Alabama 135 in Gulf Shores. Alabama 135 loops from East Second Street southward into Gulf State Park to Lake Shelby and Alabama 182 (Gulf Shores Boulevard). Photos taken 05/16/04. One quarter mile west of Alabama 135 is junction Alabama 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) on Alabama 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway) westbound. Alabama 59 constitutes a five-lane arterial between Alabama 182 (Beach Boulevard) and Foley. The state highway provides the only Intracoastal waterway bridge between Gulf Shores and the Baldwin County mainland. Photo taken 05/16/04. The final westbound Alabama 180 shield resides 20 miles out from Fort Morgan near Alabama 59 in Gulf Shores. Dixie Graves Parkway is also known as the Fort Morgan Parkway. Photo taken 05/16/04. Various scenes along Alabama 180 (Dixie Graves Parkway) westbound between Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan. For the most part the highway offers a 55 MPH speed limit as it travels through forest, marshland, and a hodgepodge of beach home communities. Photo taken 05/16/04. The official terminus of Alabama 180 occurs at the entrance to Fort Morgan State Historic Site. An empty guard house for the park entrance resides at the east entrance into the park area. No end sign is posted but the first Alabama 180 eastbound shield is found in the opposite direction. Photo taken 05/16/04. A look at Dixie Graves Parkway as it continues into the Fort Morgan State Historic Site. Constructed between 1819 and 1834, the large brick fort that is Fort Morgan played a vital role during the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War in 1964. The fortress later served in the Spanish-American War and both world wars. Photo taken 05/16/04. The ferry landing for the Dauphin Island-Fort Morgan ferry service on Dixie Graves Parkway at Fort Morgan. Ferries shuttle vehicles back and forth every 1.5 hours approximately. The first run is at 8 a.m. from Dauphin Island arriving at Ft. Morgan at 8:45 a.m. and the last trip leaves Dauphin Island at 6:30 p.m. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Photo taken 05/16/04. Page Updated July 6, 2004.