No really. Believe it or not one of the 14 proposed solutions to alleviating traffic congestion problems along I-10 through Mobile - specifically across the Mobile River through the 4-lane Wallace Tunnel - was to build a bridge from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island.
Officials began looking for alternatives to the Wallace Tunnel years ago to try to ease the flow of traffic along I-10.
They initially came up with 14 proposed routes, including bridges between Mobile and Fairhope and a connector between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan.
We're inclined to think someone came up with the bridge idea during one of those brainstorming sessions where no idea, no matter how off-the-wall, is immediately tossed out. They all get written down for later consideration.
President John Reed began the meeting saying that he wished to make an announcement regarding the issue of the west end beaches. He said that he learned the evening before that after research done by the attorney retained by the POA that the original deed contained language prohibiting the POA from deeding the beaches to the Town. Specifically:
To be by the Grantee kept and maintained forever as a recreational area for the exclusive use and enjoyment of those persons shall be and remain members of the said Dauphin Island Property Owners Association…
This reference related in essence to both Parcel A “being the parcel or area designated on said plat as “Dauphin Island Property Owners Beach†and Parcel B “being the area designated on said plat of 'West Surf Beach.'â€
... the appeal of Dauphin Island outweighs the risk. It's quiet compared with bustling resort towns. "It's beautiful," he said.
This story about Dauphin Island beach properties and the plight of owners on the west end is worth reading if for nothing more than this excerpt.
The process of building and rebuilding on Dauphin Island continues but not without a good measure of debate and controversy.
Yesterday's Dauphin Island Property Owners' meeting was a good example of how uncertain things have become for Dauphin Island's west end. Here are some of the highlights:
West End Berm
Berm construction appears to be on track to begin in late December or early January. The deadline for completion has been extended to June 2007.
The berm will be build along the shoreline as it exists today. West end Dauphin Island vacation properties under water today will remain under water until or unless the beach is restored by some other process. The berm plans do not call for restoration of beach front properties. Where a vacation home sits partially in the water, the berm will be built immediately to the water side of the home's pilings.
West End Dauphin Island Public Beach
The debate between the grass roots organization Save our Shores and the Dauphin Island Property Owners' Association continued during yesterday's meeting. The matter in question is the interpretation of wording in the original deed to the west end Dauphin Island beach area. Save our Shores contends that the deed's wording prevents the Dauphin Island Property Owners' Association from turning over the west end Dauphin Island beach to the town for public use.
The Dauphin Island Property Owners' Association board has decided to submit the document for legal review because much of the property covered by the deed is currently under water, which they believe affects what they can do with the property.
In the meantime west end Dauphin Island vacation home reconstruction continues. Although there are fewer lots today on which some of these homes can be rebuilt, those that are rebuilding are doing so with updated construction codes. They're building higher and stronger than before.
ABC News' Night Line recently ran a segment on the National Flood Insurance Program. The headline for the story had to do with the question whether the federal government should be in the business of rebuilding vacation homes in places like Dauphin Island where storms repeatedly cause damage.
We were more attracted to the video portion of the segment. The video shows exactly why people want to have vacation homes in places like Dauphin Island. This little gem of an island in the Gulf of Mexico looks every bit a remote tropical isle half a world away.
You can access the video directly at the Night Line web site. It's about 10 minutes long. A broadband connection is a must. Just turn your computer speakers to mute and enjoy the view.