Crossing U.S. 98 in downtown Foley will soon be safer for school children and other pedestrians as the city moves forward with improvements at several key intersections.
The Foley City Council approved funding for pedestrian safety upgrades at Cedar Street, Oak Street, Pine Street, Chicago Street and the Perry Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail crossing. The project will improve crossings used daily by students traveling to and from Foley Elementary School, Foley Middle School and Florence B. Mathis Elementary School.
The improvements will include flashing pedestrian beacons at several intersections to alert motorists when someone is waiting to cross U.S. 98. The project also includes raised medians, enhanced signage and improvements to driveway access designed to make the crossings safer and more accessible.
The construction contract has been awarded, and city officials expect work to begin in September. The project is scheduled for completion before the end of the year.
According to 2025 Alabama Department of Transportation traffic counts, more than 8,700 vehicles travel U.S. 98 each day at the Cedar Street intersection, located near Foley Elementary and Foley Middle schools.
The city is partnering with the Alabama Department of Transportation on the project. While ALDOT maintains U.S. 98, the City of Foley is responsible for the municipal streets that connect to the highway.
City Engineer Taylor Davis said the improvements are the result of years of planning and cooperation between the city and state.
“We’ve been working on these plans since 2022,” Davis said. “This is a collaborative effort between the city and ALDOT to improve pedestrian safety at locations used by students and residents every day.”
Most of the funding is being provided through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program, administered by ALDOT. The program helps state and local governments reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Alabama roadways through targeted safety improvements.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the project reflects the strong partnership Foley has built with the state in recent years.
“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.”
Hellmich said another joint city-state project is also in development to improve traffic signals at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Alabama 59, continuing efforts to enhance transportation safety and efficiency throughout Foley.