FOLEY, Ala. — In less than two years, Pride Drive could extend to the east side of Alabama Highway 59.

“In February, we received ATRIP (Alabama Transportation Program) approval for that project,” Foley City Administator Mike Thompson said.

The award was an 80/20 grant, with the city of Foley required to fund $4 million of the project.

The extension, which will also allow direct traffic access from 59 to Juniper Street, would accomplish two goals, according to Foley City Administrator Mike Thompson. One would be to provide access to the city’s proposed sports facility and the anticipated Blue Collar Country entertainment facility. Because Pride Drive begins at the entryway of Foley High School, the other goald of its extension would be to enable students who live on the east side of 59 to get home without having to get on the busy highway.

This spring, the city tapped Volkert Inc. to design the extension. Thompson explained that the firm was set to present the Alabama Department of Transporation with an 85 percent design of the project.

Once the state signs off on the design and a construction firm is selected, Thompson said the city anticipates letting the project in December.

“It should be a 14-month building process,” he said.

In a recent meeting between city leaders and members of Parish Lakes subdivision, which sits near the two anticipated facilities, one resident expressed concern that too many trees would be removed in the subdivision to make way for Pride Drive’s expansion.

“There are actually not a lot of trees over there until you get to the east end of Parish Lakes,” Thompson said.

But trees could be removed between Southern Chevrolet and Ryan’s restaurant, which currently flank what is the current trajectory of Pride Drive if it continues straight across 59. But those details were yet to be available at press time.

The extension project is expected to be completed by May 2015.