The Foley City Council has approved an ordinance that imposes restrictions on large trucks traversing Kenny Stabler Avenue, prohibiting vehicles with more than two axles, such as semi-trailer rigs, from using the road between East Pride Boulevard and South Juniper Street.

The council's decision, approved on April 1, comes amid concerns about increasing pedestrian traffic in the area.

City Administrator Mike Thompson said more pedestrians will be walking in the area as projects such as housing for student workers and recreational facilities are completed nearby.

“Stabler Avenue runs through the middle of a very active area with youth sports as well as our international housing that’s going to be opening soon. In addition, it’s right next to the Farmers Market and pickleball courts,” Thompson said.

He said the city has worked to improve access for pedestrians in the area.

“Y’all put a lot of money and effort into adding sidewalks and lighting for those people who will be going to the west and the east to their jobs. So that particular road, we think, would be improved by limiting access by very large vehicles,” Thompson told council members.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said Stabler Avenue was not designed to accommodate large trucks.

“The road is not built as a thoroughfare,” Hellmich said. “Of course, it’s built to our standards and it has curves in the area where we’re building a new pickleball court.”

Hellmich cited the closure of the south end of Juniper Street during improvements at the intersection of Baldwin County 20 as a factor that led to increased truck traffic on Stabler Avenue. However, he emphasized that alternative routes are available for truckers.

“The thought was that we have County Road 20. We have Juniper. We have the Beach Express. So, there really isn’t a need for this shortcut,” Hellmich said. “The commercial traffic that fronts 20 really can access all of the commercial areas they need by staying on 20. We don’t really need anybody going down this street in a really large truck. It does have a curve on it. It’s not that it’s overly sharp or anything, but it was not set up for semi-truck traffic.”

Foley has previously implemented truck traffic restrictions in other parts of the city, including the Mills Community, in response to concerns about large trucks navigating through residential areas.