Orange Beach officials blame toll increases, economic slowdown on decreased toll bridge usage

Saturday, February 16, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- For the first time since the city became a partner in the Foley Beach Express toll bridge, use of the span over the Intracoastal Waterway decreased from the previous year, data show.

Last year's total usage of 2.96 million vehicles was a 14 percent drop from 2006, when 3.38 million vehicles crossed the bridge.

Orange Beach collected royalties in 2007 of nearly $636,000, or 21 cents per car, about half the $1.2 million take of 2006 when it received 36 cents per car.

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