ERICA TECHO
Alford Avenue
City officials are monitoring the Alford Avenue and Valley Street intersection following concern from community members. There are no plans for changes at this time.
Amid community concern, city officials are looking into traffic issues at the Alford Avenue and Valley Street intersection in Bluff Park.
Hoover Police Department Officer Brian Hale said he first heard about issues at the intersection through the "Bluff Park United" Facebook page. The original post mentioned experiencing a few close calls at the intersection, and several community members responded with similar comments.
“After I saw that thread in Bluff Park United, and it wasn’t just one person … I contacted Chris Reeves, who is one of the Hoover traffic engineers, and we talked about that intersection,” Hale said.
The intersection has a left turn which yields on green to oncoming traffic and a right turn with a yield sign. When making a left from Valley Street onto Alford Avenue, drivers can also get a green arrow. Hale said the intersection could be a bit clearer on who has the right-of-way.
“If you drive through that intersection all the time and you know how the traffic flows, it’s not a problem,” Hale said. “But it’s the traffic that doesn’t go through there all the time having some trouble.”
In an email statement to The Hoover Sun, Mayor Gary Ivey said the intersection is being monitored following the request of some residents.
“We have been observing and studying the operations during the morning and afternoon this week,” Ivey said. “We will continue to monitor this intersection, but we have no immediate plans to make any changes to the signal or the signage.”
Hale said he appreciated those who brought this problem to his attention.
“Whenever they identify a problem or they think something is confusing or wrong, speak up because that’s the only way things are going to get changes, and I’m glad they did,” Hale said.
