A new four-way stop sign will soon be added on South Cypress Street as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety around the new Foley Public Library and community center currently under construction.
The Foley City Council recently approved plans to install the four-way stop at the intersection of South Cypress Street and East Orange Avenue. The intersection is located at the northeast corner of the property where the new library and community center is being built.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the change is designed to improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians as activity increases around the new facility.
“One of the reasons is the sight-line issue,” Hellmich said. “They evaluated this with the construction of the new library and more pedestrians being in that particular area. There is some sight-line issue with some of the structures built in conjunction with the library. Having a four-way there would better align with that and slow traffic over those two-block areas.”
The new stop sign is one of several transportation and streetscape improvements underway near the library site. The city recently completed upgrades to South Chicago Street connecting the library area with U.S. 98.
The South Chicago improvements included brick pavers, walkways, decorative lighting, green spaces and additional street trees designed to enhance the area for pedestrians and visitors.
When completed later this summer, the new Foley Public Library will feature about 40,000 square feet of space — roughly double the size of the current facility.