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Residents press Baldwin County to cut South Section Street speed and add safety measures
Summary
Residents from Hilltop and The Colony asked the county on Nov. 18 to lower the speed limit on South Section Street (County Road 3) from 45 to 35 mph and to add a flashing red light at a four‑way intersection; county engineers said regional traffic studies are underway and will return recommendations to the commission.
Dozens of residents and multiple commissioners used the Nov. 18 Baldwin County Commission meeting to press for traffic-safety changes on County Road 3 (South Section Street).
Troy Vickers, who said he represents homeowners in the Colony subdivision, told the commission he submitted a petition with more than 300 signatures asking the county to lower the speed limit from 45 to 35 miles per hour and to install a blinking red light at the Battles/County Road 3 intersection. Vickers cited new subdivisions, a coffee shop, and increased pedestrian and school-bus activity as reasons for lowering the limit.
Other residents reinforced the safety case. Diane Dyer said children in her neighborhood wait for school buses at the Section Street entrance and that new development—plus a restaurant with golf-cart parking—has increased conflicts. John Scarborough (Hilltop) described daily near-miss incidents on a hillcrest and said an accident is likely if conditions continue. Michael Lisonbee and Steve Cowles described geometric constraints (wetlands) that prevent road widening and amplified the need for speed and intersection changes rather than lane expansion.
Frank, the county engineer, said the highway and engineering departments are conducting a regional review rather than making piecemeal changes: "We do not change speed limits just for the sake of changing them…there's got to be engineering support and reasoning," he said. He added staff are close to completing counts and that the flashing‑red‑light request is being investigated immediately as a safety item; staff will return to the commission with data and formal recommendations.
What happens next: County engineering staff will complete traffic counts and a regional study and will bring a recommended course of action back to the commission. Residents were told staff will stay in contact about study progress and near-term safety items.
