City officials are moving forward with plans to ease congestion along one of Foley’s busiest corridors, approving a project to add turn lanes on South Juniper Street near Iberville Square.

Foley City Council voted April 6 to seek bids for the improvements, which are designed to address increasing traffic volumes in the area. City Engineer Taylor Davis said the project has been under consideration for several years as part of the city’s long-term capital plan.

“This is for a left-turn lane onto Beignet Drive on Juniper Street,” Davis said. “This has been in our capital plan for a couple years now. Obviously, with the amount of traffic on Juniper Street, this would be a project that would be warranted.”

Plans call for construction of a southbound left-turn lane onto Beignet Drive, a move expected to reduce delays and improve overall traffic flow. The project will also include a median island along that stretch of roadway, with future landscaping intended to encourage traffic calming.

The improvements will span the section of South Juniper Street between East Lawson Avenue and Beignet Drive, an area that has seen increased development and traffic in recent years. Officials said the design phase is complete and the city will now begin the bidding process before construction can begin.

Funding for the project will come from impact fees, which are assessed on developers building new homes in the area. Those fees are designated for infrastructure needs tied to growth, including roadway and intersection upgrades as well as park expansion projects.