Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project

01/27/2025

06/29/2023

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR THE ORANGE BEACH PERDIDO PASS BRIDGE LIGHTING PROJECT:

After several years of effort to create a lighting design that would be acceptable to all parties, we have reached an impasse. Our original design, as illustrated on our website, was reduced to an unacceptable point by the parameters placed on us by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The restrictions left us with a lighting plan vastly different from the design characteristics we proposed, and the Orange Beach community expected. Therefore, we have placed the Project “On Hold.”

The Orange Beach Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project has received overwhelming support from the community according to several quantitative assessments, including an independent survey. We are disheartened to announce the Project is “On Hold” in the face of such positive community support.

In contrast, the Pensacola Bay Bridge Lighting project has been implemented and it is a spectacular addition to the Pensacola Bay area. The Perdido Pass Bridge is adjacent to the Gulf Coast; therefore, our project received more scrutiny and restrictions, primarily due to concerns for the Perdido Key Beach Mouse. Our lighting plan design included turtle-friendly safeguards from the beginning.

The Project Team appreciates the support and donations we have received. Fundraising was curtailed when design constraints began to develop due to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service restrictions. The funds we currently have will be held in the Regions account, as it is our intention to restart the project when, and if, the prevailing regulatory agency scales back on Perdido Key Beach Mouse restrictions in this area.

If the project is ultimately terminated, the funds will be distributed to a charitable 501(c)(3) organization in accordance with the Orange Beach Perdido Pass Lighting Project Bylaws and the IRS rules for 501(c)(3) corporations. The Project Team regrets having to make this very difficult decision at this time, but we are cautiously optimistic the permitting process will improve in the future.

Thank you for your support,
Board of Directors
Orange Beach Perdido Pass Lighting Project

08/20/2022

08/18/2022

Facebook Friends,

The Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project Team wants to keep our followers updated on the status of the Project. We are proud to share the following progress report with you.

 On July 6th, 2022, we introduced our new CFO, John Anderson. He has been a great asset to the team.

 On August 1st, 2022, we submitted a revised project plan to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service per their request for additional details and changes. The original plan was submitted on Nov 29th, 2021, and we have been working with Signify, a world leader in lighting, to help satisfy their requests for lighting specifications. In addition, we made changes to the original plan which included turtle friendly illumination on the North and South Sides of the Bridge. The current Project design is to illuminate only the North Side of the bridge.

 July 2022, the Project Team convened and met with a local Task Force to ascertain their opinions and suggestions regarding the Project and its impact on the community.

We will keep you posted with the progress. As always, thank you for your support of the Orange Beach Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project!

07/06/2022

John L. Anderson, Jr. has joined the Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project's Board of Directors as Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

John serves as Consumer Banking Executive for the Greater Gulf Coast with Regions Financial Corporation and oversees the sales and delivery of banking services for this 168-branch network. He was named to this position in 2016. John joined AmSouth in 2002 as Branch Manager in Decatur, Al and served the bank in multiple roles, including Commercial Banking Executive for the South Alabama/ Florida Panhandle Area. John is a 10-time Chairman’s Club award winner. John attended Florida State University and Troy University and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Banking and Finance. He last served on the Board of United Way of Southwest Alabama. He has previously served on Boards for Gulf Coast Exploreum, Boy Scouts of America, Alabama Boys and Girls Ranches, and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. John owns a waterfront condo that overlooks the Perdido Pass Bridge in Orange Beach and he is enthusiastic about the prospect of having the bridge illuminated at night. We are elated to have a CFO of his caliber on the Board of the Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project.

Learn about our plan to add state of the art LED lighting technology to the Perdido Pass Bridge so it can be a beacon of inspiration both day and night.

04/21/2022

Reasons why we should illuminate the Perdido Pass Bridge in Orange Beach... TACKY JACK'S. (If you would like to tell us why you think we should illuminate the bridge, please send us a private message!)

01/23/2022

Ahoy, hearties! Hudson Marina Pirate Ship Captain says, "Come aboard!"

01/04/2022

Tom Clark, Founder and CEO of The Perdido Pass Bridge Lighting Project, discusses the project with Angelo DePaola, The Coastal Connection.

12/15/2021

OBA Community Website Survey Results... The Perdido Pass Bridge Project:
[*OBA surveys are conducted casually and are not commissioned by any entity. The questions are developed by the editors of OBA.]

Last week we asked our readers their opinion concerning the illumination project for Perdido Pass bridge in Orange Beach. Hundreds of you voted and we have the results below. We also received several more questions from readers about the project and will reach out to the "Illumination Group" for mor...

12/15/2021

OBA Community Website article about the Perdido Pass Bridge Project:

The local group hoping to illuminate the Perdido Pass Bridge is in the process of seeing what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow on the span over Orange Beach’s gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. What do you think about the project?

11/30/2021

The KEG's Shrimp Boil Fundraiser for the Perdido Pass Bridge Project brought in $5000 in donations! Joe Coe, General Manager, came up with the idea and it was a great success. Thank you and the staff of The KEG!