FAIRHOPE — Work should start soon on the latest roundabout planned on Baldwin County 13 to help the flow of traffic on the Eastern Shore.

The Fairhope City Council voted Friday, March 4, to approve an intergovernmental funding agreement with the Baldwin County Commission to build the roundabout at the intersection of Twin Beech Road.

Mayor Sherry Sullivan said the new roundabout will be similar to traffic circles built along the route, but the agreement calls for the county to move utility lines.

"We think it will be another good avenue to help us prevent at that intersection, slow down traffic and keep the traffic flowing," Sullivan said. "Of course, we all know those are school corridors, so it's really important for that and it's been a heavily talked about intersection for a while now."

The intersection is located east of Fairhope High School.

"It's something that's needed," Martin said. "I think it will help slowing down traffic and with traffic control on that side of town. There are a lot of kids walking those sidewalks."

Fairhope City Councilman Jack Burrell said the intersection is also located at a site where drivers come into Fairhope. He recommended that city officials work with the Fairhope Committee on Public Arts to design artwork to be placed in the center of the roundabout.

"It's kind of the southeast entrance to our city and it'd be a good place for people, when they get there that they know they're in Fairhope to just continue to pay attention to these roundabouts and try to do something to make them attractive to everybody and something that makes a statement on that side of town that you're in Fairhope," Burrell said.

Other roundabouts have been built on Baldwin County 13 at the intersections of Gayfer Avenue and Fairhope Avenue in Fairhope and at the intersection of Baldwin County 64 in Daphne. Another traffic circle is under construction at Baldwin County 32 and Baldwin County 13.

A roundabout is also planned at the intersection of Alabama 104, Veterans Drive and Scenic 98 near the site of the nature park to be built at Fairhope's Triangle property.