A heavily traveled Daphne intersection was closed in all directions this week as construction crews moved into the final phase of a $1.7 million roundabout project connecting Baldwin County roads 64 and 13.
The closure began in the morning, with the work expected to continue for four to six weeks. City officials say some motorists initially ignored posted detour signs, causing backups near the site before traffic adjusted to the new routes.
The project is a joint effort between the city of Daphne, the Baldwin County Commission and the Alabama Department of Transportation. A Mobile-based contractor was awarded the $1.17 million low-bid contract for the work last November, and construction on the roundabout itself has been underway since March. This marks the first time the entire intersection has been shut down completely.
Detour routes vary depending on direction of travel. Motorists heading west who need to continue north have a relatively short detour available through nearby residential streets. The bigger disruption falls on drivers moving east toward Alabama 181, who face a longer detour looping north before connecting back to the main corridor; that route is reversed for traffic headed the opposite direction. Drivers approaching from the south have another alternate route available to reach Alabama 181.
City officials say they are aiming to have the new traffic circle finished before the start of the school year. Three schools sit along or near county road 13, adding urgency to completing the work before buses and parents are back on the road in large numbers.
Roundabouts have become an increasingly common tool for easing congestion at busy intersections along Baldwin County’s fast-growing corridors, offering continuous traffic flow without the delays of traditional signal lights. Local officials have pointed to the project as part of a broader push to modernize infrastructure in the Daphne area as population growth continues to strain existing roads.
Drivers are being urged to follow posted detour signage and allow extra time for trips through the area until the intersection reopens.