A $24.4 million USD redevelopment project will begin in September 2025 at the Bayou La Batre City Docks in coastal Alabama, with a full-service marina, site upgrades and seafood marketplace.

The Mobile County Commission approved the construction contract for the redevelopment on 16 July, awarding it to Ben M. Radcliff Contractors, Inc. The project is administered by Mobile County, with grant oversight by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The project is funded through the “Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012” (RESTORE Act), using Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement funds allocated by the US Department of the Treasury.
The construction is scheduled to take two years and aims to transform the working waterfront into a multipurpose coastal site that serves both commercial and community needs. The marina will include a 1,861-metre (6,108 ft) elevated timber pile building, a floating fuel dock and six docks each equipped with water, electrical connections, fire suppression systems and restrooms.

In addition to the marina, the site will feature two 1,372-metre (4,500 ft) open-air pavilions for seafood markets, a shrimp boat sales pier for direct public seafood sales, and a four-lane boat launch with gangways, rock revetment and expanded paved parking.
Further improvements will include the demolition of ageing infrastructure, installation of new bulkheads and boardwalks, upgrades to utilities and lighting, and the addition of public amenities such as benches, curbs, landscaping, sidewalks and signage.
Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, stated: “This project is exactly what the RESTORE Act was meant to deliver: long-term, visible recovery where it’s needed most. Thanks to federal, state and local collaboration, the City of Bayou La Batre’s working waterfront will be reborn as a sustainable engine for Alabama’s seafood industry.”

The redevelopment is designed to support the commercial seafood sector, increase tourism and provide flexible space for local markets and public events. Officials expect it to boost employment in seafood processing, marine services, retail and eco-tourism.
Mobile County District 3 Commissioner Randall Dueitt, said: “Mobile County is proud to help bring this project to life for a community hit hard by Katrina and the oil spill. Redeveloping the City Docks will strengthen the seafood industry, create jobs and draw more visitors to the Bayou. It’s an investment in the people, the water and the working coast that defines Mobile County.”
Phases 1 and 2, which focused on feasibility, planning, engineering and permitting, are complete. Phase 3 will begin with a Notice to Proceed in August 2025, followed by procurement of materials and site mobilisation in autumn. Master planning, design and engineering were carried out by Moffatt & Nichol.