Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley officials are adding new traffic control near the city’s hospital as services and patient numbers continue to grow. The city plans to change an existing intersection to better handle the heavier traffic. Leaders say the change is meant to improve safety as well as traffic flow. Residents in the area also played a role by asking for improvements and protection of a well-known oak tree.

The Foley City Council voted to install a four-way stop at the intersection of North Alston Street and West Peachtree Avenue. Currently, only traffic on North Alston Street has to stop at the intersection. The change will require drivers on West Peachtree Avenue to stop as well. City officials said this will slow vehicles and make it easier for drivers to turn near the hospital.

Baldwin Health has recently completed a series of major improvements at its Foley campus. Earlier this year, the facility finished a new main entrance and lobby area to better serve patients and visitors. In 2024, the hospital also opened a new five-story patient tower. City staff said these projects have brought more vehicles into the area throughout the day.

Taylor Davis, Foley city engineer, said the hospital growth has clearly affected traffic. Davis said residents have asked for more traffic controls near the medical facilities. People in the neighborhood also urged the city to protect a large live oak tree on the northeast corner of the intersection. “With the increased traffic now that the hospital is fully functional and the site distance concern there with this live oak tree on the northeast corner of this intersection, we received some requests from concerned citizens asking us to take a look at that,” Davis said.

Davis said traffic is expected to keep increasing as medical services expand in Foley. The new four-way stop is intended to prepare the neighborhood streets for that growth. He said the intersection changes are part of a broader effort to keep the area safe for drivers and patients. The project reflects how hospital improvements can also require updates on nearby city streets.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said city leaders have been watching conditions around the hospital for some time. “It's been outstanding for a while, but with the increased traffic we felt it was important to do it now,” Hellmich said. He said the city wanted to act before problems became more serious. The mayor described the decision as both a safety measure and a way to keep traffic moving smoothly.

Hellmich also spoke about the history of the oak tree that stands at the corner of the intersection. “That tree has been a large oak tree since I was a kid,” Hellmich said. “It was right on the corner when that was a dirt road. Now, this is something that’s needed at the site. It will also slow traffic down in that area.” City officials said the plan improves safety while keeping the longtime neighborhood landmark in place.

The city will also take steps to make sure drivers notice the new stop signs. Hellmich said crews will put warning flags on the signs to highlight the change in traffic patterns. “We'll do the signs with the flags on the four-way stop ahead and everything for a while. It will be a learning experience with the stop on Peachtree,” he said. Officials hope the extra warnings will help drivers adjust safely as the hospital area continues to grow.