FOLEY – New sidewalks will improve pedestrian access along Cedar and Hickory streets following action by the Foley City Council.
The council approved funding for the first phase of a project to extend sidewalks north on Cedar Street to Fern Avenue.
Money for the new projects comes from $1 million approved for sidewalks by the Foley City Council in the current municipal budget. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said city officials plan to continue walkway construction in the future.
“We put $1 million in sidewalks in this budget year, and we’re working on the budget to do another $1 million next year,” he said. “That should really help us catch up significantly on some of these complicated projects.”
The current project will extend sidewalks on Cedar Street from Melvin Roberts Park north to Fern Avenue. That phase of the project will improve connectivity between the park area and the neighborhoods to the north.
Hellmich said Foley plans to continue to build sidewalks in the northern area of the city. The second phase of the project will continue sidewalk construction farther north along Cedar.
“This is the beginning,” Hellmich said. “They currently have, under design for next year, to continue up Cedar Street to Peachtree. This is our northern connectivity project.”
The council also approved a project to connect two existing sidewalks on Hickory Street. The extension will link a sidewalk built using funding from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, known as TAP, to the walkway near River Trace subdivision.
He said the city is working on plans to add sidewalks on Alabama 59 and along Azalea Avenue to Pride Drive. The mayor said planners are working on designs for walkways that could be built along highway rights of way.
“A lot of people walk along 59 in the grass,” Hellmich said. “It’s a real challenge with the right of way than the ditches, but we’re working on that.”
Hellmich said Foley is also working on sidewalks in the Mills community. Future plans include extending sidewalks west on Fern.