09/19/2026
If you haven't been paying attention to the north side of the Intracoastal Waterway, you might want to start.
Gulf Shores is slowly creating something there that looks very different from the beach-centered town most people know.
The city announced this month that another phase of improvements to East 2nd Street is moving forward as part of the larger Waterway Village project.
And they're doing a lot more than repaving the street.
Plans include completely reconstructing East 2nd Street between East 22nd and East 23rd avenues, adding on-street parking, new sidewalks and upgraded stormwater infrastructure.
Then comes the part that could really change how the area looks.
The project calls for new pedestrian and street lighting, irrigation, medium and large trees, planting beds, turf, benches, planters and trash receptacles. Landscaping improvements will extend through additional portions of East 2nd Street on both sides of the new pedestrian bridge area.
The ultimate goal is a connected "complete street" running from East 22nd Avenue to Waterway East Boulevard.
This is part of a much bigger transformation.
Waterway Village is being developed as a walkable district along the Intracoastal Waterway, rather than another strip of development designed almost entirely around cars.
And once you remember what this area looked like years ago, the change becomes even more dramatic.
For generations, visitors thought of Gulf Shores as Highway 59 leading straight to the beach.
Now the city is trying to establish another gathering area around the waterway itself.
Restaurants.
Public spaces.
Walking connections.
Landscaping.
The pedestrian bridge.
And more improvements coming.
Gulf Shores' next "downtown" might not actually be down by the Gulf at all.
It might be growing beside the Intracoastal.
