ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Officials with the Alabama Department of Transportation have taken the repair of the Perdido Pass seawall off the table for the foreseeable future.

“It is currently not in our 10-year program because of the costs and our financial situation,” Preconstruction Engineer Don Powell of ALDOT said Friday morning. In October Powell said plans were being studied for a fix for the wall, but in the past few months the state’s position has changed.

City officials in Orange Beach had hoped the repairs were within reach for the formerly popular fishing spot. The area has been fenced off since April.

“In my mind putting it in a 10-year plan, was that acceptable anyway?” Coastal Resources Director Phillip West said. “We need it built now, not 2023.”

West said the seawall and the surrounding area has a lot of potential that is not being realized.

“We could do so much with Alabama Point,” he said. “It’s such a unique location. It’s the only place like it in the entire state so why not give it some real status.

It also, West said, gives those who don’t have boats a way to enjoy the pass as well.

“The seawall’s a pretty iconic destination for people for access for shore-bound anglers and just a great place to gather to watch activity in the pass,” he said. “Boats coming in, tournament boats going out. It’s real disappointing we’re without it right now.”

Mayor Tony Kennon said the city is working every angle it can to get the status changed and back on the list for a quicker repair. He urged citizens to let state officials know they want the wall repaired soon.

“The folks in the state of Alabama that like to fish there and use it need to make their feelings known,” Kennon said. “These folks have got to start fighting with us. We’re trying to get it back in the 10-year plan. We’re doing everything we can. But folks need to let Montgomery know.”

Developer Shaul Zislin hopes to put a restaurant near the pass to replace the Outrigger which was destroyed in Ivan. He and his partners were hoping for the seawall to be repaired before the big restaurant is built.

In the meantime, he had The Gulf built using four shipping crates and an outside dining room. It has been widely popular since its opening in November.