FOLEY – The City of Foley is moving forward with immediate safety upgrades at the intersection of Baldwin County 65 and Airport Road following the city’s acquisition of the site from Baldwin County.

The Foley City Council voted June 2 to assume responsibility for the intersection, which has been the site of multiple serious accidents, including three fatalities in the past 14 months. In response, the city will reduce the speed limit and implement several safety enhancements.

“We are immediately implementing some safety upgrades. It will become a well-lighted four-way stop,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said. “We’ve lowered the speed limit on 65 because as you approach a four-way stop, you should be slowing down. We will also add street lighting to make sure that it’s very well lighted.”

In addition to the stop signs and lighting, the city will install new signage and other features to encourage drivers to reduce speed and remain alert for other vehicles and pedestrians.

“There have been a lot of accidents at that intersection over the past 20 years, and it’s time that it’s upgraded,” Mayor Hellmich said. “It doesn’t warrant a traffic signal, but it did warrant some safety upgrades, and so Foley is taking that over.”

The city also plans to enhance pedestrian access by installing a sidewalk crossing at the intersection. The crossing will connect the Mills Community to areas east of the intersection and eventually link to Foley’s broader sidewalk and trail network along Fern Avenue.

The acquisition includes 1,936 feet of County Road 65, from 620 feet north of the intersection to 1,316 feet south. The Foley Public Works Department will begin maintaining the right of way in this area.

To further improve safety, the City Council voted to reduce the speed limit on Foley’s section of County Road 65 from 45 mph to 35 mph. While such changes typically require two readings at separate meetings, the council voted to suspend normal procedures to enact the lower speed limit immediately.

“The community is anxious to see some changes,” said Councilman Charles Ebert III. “There have been some problems at that intersection. It’s a public safety issue.”

Councilwoman Vera Quaites added that many residents have been asking for the city to take action. “The community will be happy about that,” she said.