City staff, ALDOT discuss frontage-road access limits, potential signals and bypass widening; council to review signal inventory

City public-works staff briefed the council on three Highway Department (ALDOT) projects that could change traffic patterns on U.S. 84 (the bypass) and adjacent frontage roads.

Barry Mott, city engineer and public works director, summarized a recent meeting with ALDOT that focused on: (1) access and safety along the bypass/frontage road in front of the Chick-fil-A and the Rucker Boulevard area, (2) a possible signal or alternative turn movement at State Route 167 and Salem Road, and (3) a design effort to widen currently two-lane sections of the bypass so intersections would connect as a continuous four‑lane divided highway.

Mott said ALDOT staff reported about “250 accidents over a five-year period” in the corridor when excluding rear‑end collisions, noting many were angle or T‑bone crashes. To address safety without wholesale roadway reconstruction, ALDOT’s schematic proposes limiting access to the frontage road in places—changing some segments to one‑way and adjusting where drivers can re-enter the bypass—to reduce conflict points. Mott said ALDOT is taking the schematic to Montgomery for analysis and, if approved, it would move into design.

On the 167/Salem Road location, ALDOT indicated it would consider a signal warrant study and might include “J‑turn” (u‑turn / right‑turn) lane configurations in its analysis. For the bypass widening, the city has contracted consultant design work (Volkert) to create ALDOT‑standard plans; Mott said the consultant estimated an 18‑month process to reach a deliverable acceptable for ALDOT review and potential letting.

ALDOT also told staff that several signals located on city streets are ultimately a council decision; Mott said the engineering department will analyze the city’s signal inventory and return to council with a timeline and recommended changes, noting signal replacement could be expensive. Council agreed staff should supply maps and data at a future work session.

Why it matters: The frontage-road changes, a new signal, and the bypass widening would alter access patterns for major shopping centers and affect local traffic safety. The projects are primarily ALDOT‑led but require city coordination on access and pedestrian and lighting considerations.

What comes next: Staff will share detailed schematics and timing from ALDOT when available, run a city signal-warrant review and return to council with findings and schedule.