GULF SHORES, Ala. – Public Works Director Mark Acreman told the City Council on Jan. 28 that preliminary background work is beginning on a road extension project to relieve a city traffic bottleneck.

Acreman said the inquiry is to find engineering firms for the extension of 20^th Avenue through the state park. The route would bypass the 90-degree turn onto Canal Road from East Second Street, the city’s northern connection to Orange Beach.

Planning Director Andy Bauer said he was doing similar work on the new on parking space project for the Waterway Village on 24^th Avenue which is in the same general area.

“We had a deadline today to submit letters of interest on the East 20^th extension project,” Acreman said. “This is to look for interest from various engineering firms to submit an environmental corridor study as part of our ATRIP application to get funding to extend 20^th in and around and behind the treatment plant at 10^th Street all the way back to Highway 180.”