Alabama drivers and pedestrians in 2025 will find enhanced road and highway safety in their communities. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has awarded more than $43 million as part of its 2024 safety improvement grant programs.
Projects benefiting from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Local Road Safety Initiative Program (LRSI) include improvements to intersections, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and more.
Thirty-five projects received funding through the HSIP and LRSI programs in 2024. These projects are expected to be let through ALDOT’s bidding process before the end of 2025.
ALDOT accepts applications from local governments throughout the year for the HSIP and the LRSI programs. For more information, please visit the website here.
See below for two examples of projects from this list.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS:
Wares Ferry Elementary Pedestrian Crossing
One such project in the City of Montgomery will upgrade the pedestrian crossing at Wares Ferry Elementary School.
“There is a significant number of children who walk to and from Wares Ferry Elementary each school day,” said Holly Olesen, City of Montgomery’s interim city engineer. “This project will install a pedestrian refuge island with rapid rectangular flashing beacons. Together, these countermeasures will improve the school crossing allowing the children to safely walk across Wares Ferry Road. The City of Montgomery is appreciative of ALDOT’s assistance securing funding for this project which is so important for the students, parents and school officials.”
Advanced Dilemma-Zone Detection Systems
In parts of Houston County and throughout ALDOT’s Southwest Region, funds will be used to install innovative Advanced Dilemma-Zone Detection Systems for signalized intersections with high-speed approaches.
Signalized intersections are road crossings or junctions where traffic lights are used to manage the flow of traffic and pedestrians. The Advanced Dilemma-Zone Detection System technology improves safety by adjusting the timing of the traffic lights. Specifically, this helps drivers avoid dangerous crashes by detecting vehicles likely to run the yellow and red period. As a result, this reduces the frequency of crashes, delays and red-light violations according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
“ALDOT research and evaluation of these Advanced Dilemma-Zone systems at pilot sites in the state have delivered significant results including a 57% drop in redlight running per day and a 65% drop in arrivals on red per day,” said Benjamin Nichols, Southwest Region signal systems engineer.
