Efforts are underway to extend East Jessamine Avenue in Foley, aiming to improve vehicle and pedestrian access from the City Hall complex to Heritage Park and beyond.

City crews are  extending the road eastward from North Cypress Street to the park located at the intersection of North Chicago Street. The Foley City Council, in a meeting held on Monday, March 18, allocated $125,000 towards the project. Darrell Russell, Foley's public works director, said that this initial funding will facilitate the completion of a one-block road in gravel and the installation of drainage systems.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich outlined forthcoming plans for the project.

“It will have drainage, curbing, parking, sidewalks and lighting,” Hellmich said. “It will also extend the sidewalk, eventually crossing Cypress Street.”

The project's design is intended to align with downtown improvement initiatives undertaken by Foley Main Street.

“We have looked at this as a comprehensive project similar to what we've done on the streetscape projects over the years,” Hellmich said. “It ties in with what Main Street is doing. It will tie in with what we call our campus area. It will be a comprehensive plan.”

The inclusion of sidewalks in the project aims to establish connectivity between City Hall facilities and areas west of Alabama 59.

“You’ll be basically able to walk from the Middle School on sidewalks and, by crossing a (pedestrian) bridge, go all the way to City Hall or the library,” Hellmich said. “It's something that we've been trying to do downtown.”

Additionally, the project seeks to improve drainage along East Jessamine Avenue while accommodating parking and other activities on the street's side areas.

“With underground drainage, we’ve got businesses along there on that south side. They currently use that right of way,” Hellmich said. “You can't really have open ditches right in that particular area.”