Alabama Coastal Development Given the Green Light by State Supreme Court

Attention: Important Announcement The Alabama Supreme Court has made a significant decision regarding the ongoing construction of a coastal development project. This ruling allows the state to proceed with the construction of a new bridge that will provide an alternative route to state beaches. The court's decision overturns a previous injunction that had temporarily halted the project, issued by a judge in Montgomery. The injunction was the result of a lawsuit filed by the operators of an existing toll bridge against the state. The Supreme Court determined that the trial court did not have the appropriate jurisdiction to consider the claim of bad faith that was used to justify the preliminary injunction. As a result, the Alabama Department of Transportation has confirmed that construction work will resume in the upcoming weeks. Transportation spokesperson Tony Harris expressed his satisfaction with the Supreme Court's decision, emphasizing the importance of the new bridge for coastal residents and visitors. The bridge aims to alleviate traffic congestion along the coast and provide an additional evacuation route during hurricane seasons. However, the decision has sparked some criticism from the Baldwin County Bridge Company, which operates an existing toll bridge to access Gulf beaches. They filed the lawsuit to block the construction of the new bridge, claiming that Transportation Director John Cooper engaged in bad faith negotiations and pursued the project to harm their business. Baldwin County Bridge Company's president, Neal Belitsky, expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating that it sends a negative message to businesses nationwide. Previously, in May, Montgomery Circuit Judge Jimmy Pool had granted a preliminary injunction, ordering a halt to the project. Judge Pool based this decision on evidence that Cooper had pushed for the new bridge without conducting traffic studies, with only one discussion about it with the governor. We will continue to provide updates on the ongoing construction of the coastal development project as new information becomes available. Thank you for your attention.