New stop signs greet motorists approaching Edmondson Road on Alabama Highway 91. / W.C. Mann
HANCEVILLE – Crews from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) on Friday installed stop signs to create a four-way stop at the notorious intersection of Alabama Highway 91 and Edmondson Road on Hanceville’s east side. The move is a response to three deaths that occurred in vehicle collisions at the intersection. Crews also installed rumble strips on the east side approach to Edmondson Road along Hwy. 91 and spent time directing traffic through the intersection to make sure all motorists passing through slowed down and were aware of the change.
Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail, who originally asked ALDOT for a traffic light at the intersection, said, “We appreciate the governor helping us out with this deal. I’m no traffic engineer, but I hope this saves lives. I don’t know; it’s really up to the state of Alabama, but that’s all we can do, is just hope and pray that this will save a few lives.”
The last fatality at the intersection occurred on Jan. 4, 2018. Burshel Eugene Boatrite, 74, of Crane Hill was killed, and another person injured, when a pick-up truck and 18-wheeler collided at the intersection.
That same month, after a wave of community reaction, ALDOT announced its decision to install the four-way stop.
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