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Project Profile: Foley Beach Express

Foley Beach Express

photo credit: City of Foley, Alabama

Location

Baldwin County, Alabama

Project Sponsor / Borrower

City of Foley, Alabama

Program Areas

Tolling and Pricing

Mode

Highway / Toll Bridge

Description

The Foley Beach Express (Beach Express) is a 13.5-mile limited access four-lane route from the City of Foley to Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Perdido Key in Alabama. It is in alternative to the heavily traveled Highway 59.

The project was originally built in two sections: the 7.5-mile, toll-free Foley Bypass constructed with federal funds and a 1-mile bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway and 5-mile approach road designed, built, and financed by the Baldwin County Bridge Company (BCBC). The approach road was deeded to Baldwin County which maintained and operated it toll-free. The bridge was tolled and operated by BCBC.

In December 2005, the Foley Beach Express was sold to Macquarie Infrastructure Group and incorporated into its American Roads, LLC portfolio, which included three other Alabama toll roads and the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. In early 2007 the American Roads company and the Beach Express were sold to Alinda Capital Partners, LLC. American Roads filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and one of its creditors, Syncora Guarantee, Inc. assumed ownership of the facility.

Cost

$44 million

Funding Sources

$36 million private (taxable) toll revenue bond issue
Additional grants from FHWA and the City of Foley

Project Delivery / Contract Method

Toll bridge was built using a design-build procurement awarded to McInnis Corporation of Montgomery, Alabama. The private highway contractor was a joint venture of J.S. Walton Construction and Mobile Asphalt, Co., both of Mobile, Alabama.

Private Partner

Original DBFO partner - Baldwin County Bridge

Company

Current owner - Syncora Guarantee, Inc.

Project Advisors / Consultants

Helmsing, Leach, Herlong, Newman and Rouse

Lenders

HSH Nordbank AG (Germany)

Duration / Status

Opened June 2000

Financial Status

Closed

Innovations

N/A

Related Links / Articles

Beach Express Website

Contacts

Rick Dennis
Manager, Beach Express
Tel: (251) 968-3415
bexoffice@beachexpress.com

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