FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The city of Fairhope is moving forward with a $5 million road and roundabout project and wants Baldwin County to cover half the cost through the county’s infrastructure cost-sharing program.
During its first August meeting, the Fairhope City Council voted to apply for $2.5 million in county funding under the “30 Cubed Project,” a program the county started last year that pairs cities and the county on shared road and bridge work. The county’s goal for the program, initially $60 million in road projects by 2030, has since doubled. “The program funds local transportation and roadway improvements through a 50/50 cost-share partnership between Baldwin County and participating municipalities,” according to a memo on the application. “Unlike many state and federal transportation programs, these local funds do not carry the same administrative and compliance burden.”
The project includes constructing a roundabout at Founders Drive and Boothe Road, identified as the preferred long-term fix; installing ADA-compliant curb ramps and pedestrian refuge improvements; upgrading crosswalk markings; and improving the U.S. 98 and Twin Beech Road intersection with signal upgrades and an added turn lane. “The Twin Beech Corridor serves as a vital east-west transportation route connecting residential neighborhoods, schools, recreational facilities, commercial areas, and US 98,” City Engineer Richard Johnson wrote in a letter recommending the move, adding that the corridor study identified safety and capacity needs to accommodate continued growth.
City officials expect the project to stretch across several fiscal years. Council President Jimmy Conyers said the city would need to work the expense into the 2028 and 2029 budgets. Councilman Jack Burrell asked whether the project could later be scaled back to just the roundabout if city funds grow tight; other council members raised questions about final design and cost as the project moves forward. Baldwin County Engineer Frank Lundy did not respond to a request for comment.