Good Hope plans to use a $200,000 grant to consolidate access points on Alabama 69 and build a new access road with a traffic signal for the Wilco Hess Travel Center, now called the Pilot Travel Center.

GOOD HOPE — The city is moving forward with a project to make safety improvements along Alabama Highway 69/County Road 437 and create a new access road to Wilco Hess travel center.

Good Hope was awarded a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in February 2014 to consolidate access points on the busy highway and build a new access road with a traffic signal for the travel center. Although the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) declined the city’s request to add a traffic light at the travel center, Good Hope officials said they want to proceed with other necessary road improvements in preparation for a signal.

The project would consolidate four access points — or curb cuts — just north of the travel center into one and add a short access road in between. Currently, Cabin Fever and neighboring Pawn Your Bond each have two curb cuts on Highway 69, with Super Saver Road merging nearby onto the highway.

That creates a tricky situation for drivers pulling out on the highway or turning into the businesses off of it.

“We’re going to have to do this work anyway if we want to get a signal, and there’s no guarantee we’ll have a grant to help with the costs in future,” said Mayor Jerry Bartlett.

The grant is a 80-20 split, with the city responsible for a $40,000 match to the grant’s $160,000. Additionally, the city must pay $15,000 to CDG Engineers for the design work for the road improvements.

Good Hope received the federal CDBG funding through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) due to Wilco Hess bringing 100 new jobs to the city.

In an unrelated matter, Councilman Johnny Harris asked the city put up “children playing” and speed limit signs on Calvert Road.

“There’s a lot of kids playing around there, and people just fly through there. I’m worried were going to have an accident,” Harris said.

In other business, the Good Hope City Council:

* Approved minutes from Feb. 22 meeting.

* Approved February financials.

* Councilman Maxie Jones discussed three property owners proposing to sell their land, totaling 14.1 acres, for $720,000. The land is located along County Road 437, from Tucker Homes to Mize Road, and is zoned commercial.

*Councilwoman Susan Eller said a leak of 25,000 to 30,000 gallons that had infiltrated the waste water system was discovered this week, and the city will report the overflow to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)

* Councilman Taft Dillashaw said the annual can drive is underway at Good Hope Elementary School, with collection to begin at the middle and high schools next week.

* Councilman Matthew Glover said youth league ball practices are underway with opening day scheduled for the first of April. The city ball park hosted two tournaments recently.

* Discussed making a $500 donation to the Jeremiah Castille Character Camp to provide additional spots for Good Hope peewee football players to participate free.

The Good Hope City Council’s meeting will be 6:30 p.m. March 28.

* Tiffeny Owens can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.