Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  Foley is moving forward with plans to make crossing U.S. 98 safer for students and other pedestrians. The Foley City Council approved funding for pedestrian improvements at five locations along the busy highway. The project targets intersections at Cedar Street, Oak Street, Pine Street, Chicago Street and the Antique Rose Trail. These crossings are used daily by children walking to nearby schools.

Work is expected to begin in September 2026, with all improvements completed before the end of the year. City officials have already awarded the project bid. The upgrades are part of a cooperative effort between the City of Foley and the Alabama Department of Transportation. The state maintains U.S. 98, while the city is responsible for the intersecting municipal streets.

Several of the targeted crosswalks serve students at Foley Elementary, Foley Middle School, and Florence B. Mathis Elementary School. According to 2025 state traffic counts, more than 8,700 vehicles travel U.S. 98 at the Cedar Street intersection alone. That crossing is near both Foley Elementary and Foley Middle School. The volume of traffic underscores the need for improved pedestrian safety in the area.

Planned improvements include flashing beacons at several intersections to alert drivers when pedestrians are waiting to cross. The project will also provide better access to nearby driveways, add raised medians, and install additional signage. Foley City Engineer Taylor Davis said the effort brings together two levels of government to achieve a shared goal. He noted that the city has been developing plans to improve these intersections since 2022.

Most of the project's funding comes from the state through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. The HSIP is designed to help Alabama's state, county and city governments reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roads. Foley's partnership with ALDOT made the project possible, and city leaders say the relationship has been years in the making.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich pointed to the city's long-standing working relationship with state officials as key to moving these projects forward. "This is due to the relationship that we developed and cultivated with them for many years," Hellmich said. "They are being really good partners right now, and we're trying to get a lot of these projects done." The mayor also said another joint project is in development to improve traffic signals at the intersection of Myrtle Street and Alabama 59.