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Commission approves redesigned stop-control, reconfiguration for Wimbledon area
Summary
After hearing two traffic consultants and neighbors’ concerns, the Birmingham City Commission approved redesign options (3A and 5B) for the Wimbledon/Popleton/Warwick intersections to improve pedestrian safety and visibility; the motion carried on a recorded roll call.
The Birmingham City Commission voted to reconfigure two Wimbledon-area intersections and add stop-control measures after staff and two traffic consultants presented competing designs and safety tradeoffs.
Engineering staff said design work for reconfiguring both intersections (option set labeled 3A with paired 5B) would cost roughly $1,000 per intersection for design changes and only modestly affect construction costs. The commission debated whether to pursue the fuller redesign (which adds additional stop control on Wimbledon) or a less intrusive option favored by some neighbors.
"They're both very similar. If you do one, why wouldn't you do the other?" the City manager said while outlining timing constraints tied to upcoming underground work that would be disrupted if changes were delayed.
Nearby residents urged caution about lost parking and impacts on tree lawns. Cliff Rager, who lives at 541 Wimbledon, said he preferred a smaller change: "Our preference is 5E simply because it's the least amount of change to the intersection," and asked the commission to consider moving a crosswalk to reduce impact on front yards.
Commissioners who backed the motion argued it improves safety and avoids ripping up recently completed underground work later. The motion to adopt options 3A and 5B passed on a roll call vote recorded in the meeting: Mister Kozowski — yes; Mister Host — no; Mayor Ballard — yes; Mister Hague — yes; Commissioner Cole — yes.
Engineers said they will finalize redesigned plans now so underground utilities can be laid with the new geometry, and staff agreed to explore minor adjustments (sidewalk angle and parking recommendations) requested by residents as the detailed drawings are produced.
