Light at Michigan & Hickory first step at improving flow

Light at Michigan & Hickory first step at improving flow

New temporary signal lights are a first step to improve the busy intersection at South Hickory St. and West Michigan Ave. in Foley. The lights are part of a project by the city and Baldwin County to add turn lanes at the intersection. The county will install permanent signals mounted on mast arms – poles on which the lights will be mounted – at the intersection. The mast arms will not be ready for installation for seven to nine months.
While the intersection is maintained by Baldwin County, the city is working with the county on the project. The project includes adding left-turn lanes on both Hickory and Michigan.
“That’s really the flaw of this intersection,’’ said Mayor Ralph Hellmich.
The improvements will take place while preserving most of the large oak trees at the intersection.
Other road projects are also planned or are underway to improve the flow of traffic in the southwest area of Foley. A planned extension of Baldwin County 20 is expected to take some of the traffic pressure off the area of Hickory and Michigan. Work has also begun on intersection improvements at Alabama 59 and Baldwin County 12.