New stop signs recommended for Brookwood-Crosshill intersection

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New stops at Brookwood Road and Crosshill Road will improve safety at the intersection in the future.

At the July 13 council meeting, Richard Caudle of Skipper Consultants recommended two stop signs be added on the south side of the intersection for both directions of traffic to improve sight distance. These improvements will cost $1,200.

A third stop sign could be added at the north side of the intersection, but it would increase traffic backup and hence Caudle did not recommend it.

The only area of the intersection where sight distance was limited below minimum requirements is for traffic entering the southern intersection of Crosshill Road looking to the right. There it is limited to 170 feet, whereas the minimum required for the posted speed limit is 335 feet.

Accordingly, a driver who crashed on March 13, 2012 entering Crosshill Road said she did not see the vehicle approaching from Brookwood Road. This was one of three crashes that occurred at the intersection from 2012-2014.

“Considering the number of teenage drivers, I think this is a good solution,” City Council Member Lloyd Shelton said.

Another alternate resolution to the stop signs would be adding a traffic signal, but traffic counts at the intersection did not warrant this addition.

Skipper also noted congestion at the intersection from 7:37-7:53 a.m. and 4:11-4:30 p.m.

The city will send notices to neighbors about the upcoming stop sign additions.

Also at the meeting the council:

  • Discussed RFPs for a sports and playing field lighting project.
  • Discussed new cell service technology that could be installed in the city if the city’s Telecommunication Towers ordinance is amended appropriately.
  • Discussed an ALDOT agreement for utility and construction for a roundabout in Mountain Brook Village. Federal funds will pay for 80 percent of the 2.6 million project, Birmingham city will pay 10 percent and Mountain Brook will pay 10 percent. Utilities will cost an estimated $500,000 of the $2.6 million.
  • Declared a public nuisance at 4455 Briar Glenn Drive. The owners now no longer live at the home, and they have not responded to recent letters about the overgrowth on the property. Once finalized the public nuisance approval will allow the city to cut grass on the property and get it cleaned up.
  • Approved a fire hydrant for the new Crestline Piggly Wiggly. Brasfield & Gorrie will pay to install it, and the city will pay $186 annually for its lease.
  • Presented a resolution to Jerry Weems recognizing his retirement as a building inspector for the city as of Aug. 1. He has worked for the city since 1984. “I feel like in a lot of ways I have received more benefits than I have given,” Weems said. “I feel like I got a very good education while I have been over here, and it didn’t cost me a dime.”
  • Declared police equipment surplus and authorized transferring it to the City of Warrior and the Town of Blountsville, or other municipality and/or sale through public Internet auction.
  • Awarded a bid for carpet installation at The Emmet O'Neal Library to Commercial Flooring Systems, Inc. The installation is scheduled to start on the first floor on Aug. 3.
  • Accepted a professional services proposal and services contract by Sain Associates for a sidewalk and lane shift on Overbrook Road at Mountain Brook Parkway.
  • Approved beer and wine licenses for Iz Café in English Village.
  • Approved plans for resurfacing Rocky Ridge Road from Lorna Road to Shades Crest Road and closing or barricading intersecting streets as necessary for construction.
  • Approved an agreement between the City and Trobaugh and Company, LLC for to business license and tax auditing services.
  • Approved the mayor’s appointing Dana Hazen as a non-voting advisory member to the Mountain Brook Planning Commission. Hazen replaces Jerry Weems on the board.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be July 27 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 56 Church Street.