Crossing U.S. 98 in downtown Foley is expected to become safer for students and other pedestrians under a project that will add new safety features at several highway intersections near local schools.

Foley City Council approved funding for pedestrian improvements at Cedar Street, Oak Street, Pine Street, Chicago Street and the Antique Rose Trail. The crossings serve students traveling to and from Foley Elementary School, Foley Middle School and Florence B. Mathis Elementary School.

The project will include flashing beacons at several intersections to alert drivers when pedestrians are waiting to cross the highway. Plans also call for improved access to nearby driveways, raised medians and additional signage.

The city has awarded a bid for the work and officials hope construction will begin by September. The improvements are expected to be completed before the end of the year.

According to 2025 state traffic counts, more than 8,700 vehicles travel U.S. 98 each day at the Cedar Street intersection, which is located near Foley Elementary School and Foley Middle School.

The city is partnering with the Alabama Department of Transportation on the improvements.

Taylor Davis, Foley city engineer, said the project is a cooperative effort between the state, which maintains the highway, and the city, which maintains municipal streets. The goal is to improve pedestrian safety near schools and other downtown destinations.

Most of the funding is being provided by the state through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. The program is designed to help the state, counties and municipalities reduce fatalities and injuries on Alabama roadways.

Davis said the city has been working on plans for the intersection improvements since 2022.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said Foley's long-standing relationship with state transportation officials has helped advance projects throughout the city.

"This is due to the relationship that we developed and cultivated with them for many years," Hellmich said. "They are being really good partners right now, and we're trying to get a lot of these projects done."

Hellmich said another joint project currently being developed with the state will improve traffic signals at the intersection of Myrtle Street and Alabama 59.