A frequently congested intersection south of Bayou La Batre could get a major redesign. The Alabama Department of Transportation is collecting public feedback on a proposal to replace the T-intersection where State Road 188 meets County Road 19 — the crossing near Odd Fellows Cemetery and a popular fast-food restaurant — with a roundabout.
Neighbors split on the idea
Signs posted around the intersection point drivers to ALDOT’s comment process. Area residents have voiced mixed reactions as word of the study spreads.
“Have a lot of gridlock here, especially in the afternoon,” said area resident C L Jordan, who noted that school buses sometimes back up at the crossing and that he has witnessed several near misses.
Others who work nearby worry a circular intersection could make matters worse rather than better, arguing that current traffic already flows in and out smoothly.
Timeline and how to weigh in
ALDOT’s public comment period was scheduled to close Nov. 26, with input accepted online, by email, mail, voice message or in person. If the project advances, the department anticipated that main construction would begin in spring 2022 and finish by that summer.
Roundabouts keep traffic moving continuously and typically reduce severe crash types at intersections, which is why transportation planners increasingly favor them for high-volume rural junctions like this gateway to Alabama’s seafood capital.