Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley has added a new four-way stop near Baldwin Health Hospital to improve safety and traffic flow for drivers in the area. The change affects both North Alston Street and West Peachtree Avenue, where all vehicles must now come to a complete stop. City officials said the move is part of a broader effort to manage growth around the medical district as the surrounding area continues to develop. Drivers are being urged to pay close attention to the new signs as they adjust to the updated traffic pattern.

The new four-way stop went into effect early Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, when city crews installed the stop signs at the intersection. The Foley City Council first approved the change in 2025 after reviewing traffic concerns around Baldwin Health and nearby medical facilities. Lately, hospital projects have brought more vehicles to the area, increasing the need for better traffic control.

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Baldwin Health has completed several major expansions, increasing traffic around the intersection. The hospital opened a new five-story patient tower in 2024, adding capacity and drawing more patients and staff to the site. In 2025, the facility completed its latest expansion, which included a new main entrance and lobby, as well as an ambulatory surgery center.

City leaders said the new stop pattern is intended to keep vehicles moving in an orderly, safer manner around the growing hospital campus. The council’s 2025 vote changed how drivers move through the crossing so that traffic flows more smoothly for people heading to Baldwin Health and other nearby medical offices. Officials said they expect the change to help reduce confusion and the risk of crashes as more drivers use the route.

The intersection sits inside Foley’s medical overlay district, a special zone created by the city in 2023 to guide development in the area. The Medical Overlay District is intended to encourage additional medical services in North Foley as the city’s population grows and demand for health care increases. City planners see the four-way stop as one of several steps to support that growth while keeping streets safe for residents, patients, and workers.

To help drivers notice the change, the city has added warning flags to the new stop signs on Peachtree Avenue. The bright markers are meant to catch the attention of motorists who may be used to driving through the intersection without stopping. City officials said the flags are a reminder that traffic on both streets now must stop before proceeding through the crossing.

Officials said they plan to continue monitoring traffic in the area to assess how the new four-way stop is performing and whether any additional changes are needed.