State Route 161 (SR 161) is a
state highway near the beaches of
Baldwin County near the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...
in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
. The southern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with
SR 182 in the south-central part of
Orange Beach. The northern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with
SR 180 in the north-central part of Orange Beach.
Route description
SR 161 begins at an
intersection with
SR 182 (Perdido Beach Boulevard) on the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...
in the south-central part of
Orange Beach. It travels to the north on four-lane undivided Orange Beach Boulevard past beach resort areas. The road turns northeast and becomes a five lane road with a
center left-turn lane
A reversible lane (British English: tidal flow) is a lane in which traffic may travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions. Typically, it is meant to improve traffic flow during rush hours, by having overhead traffic lights and li ...
. It very briefly leaves the
city limits of Orange Beach. It travels through a portion of
Gulf State Park
Gulf State Park is a public recreation area on the Gulf of Mexico in the city of Gulf Shores in southern Baldwin County, Alabama. The state park's mostly encompass the land behind the Gulf Shores beach community, between Highway 59 and SH 161 ...
and then skirts along the eastern edge of the park. The highway re-enters Orange Beach and curves back to the north. It then travels through a mix of wooded wetlands and residential development. Farther north, SR 161 travels through housing subdivisions before continuing into wooded areas. The highway passes businesses prior to reaching its northern terminus, an intersection with
SR 180 in the north-central part of Orange Beach. It serves as an
alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various state a ...
for motorists heading north from the beaches of eastern
Baldwin County to avoid
traffic congestion in
Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 9,741.
Geography
Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 30°16'4.069" North, 87°42'5.285" West (30.267797, −87.70 ...
. Along with
SR 59 and
SR 135, it is one of three highways that connect SR 182 and SR 180.
Major intersections
See also
*
*
References
External links
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161
Transportation in Baldwin County, Alabama