By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Drivers on Alabaster’s Fulton Springs Road soon will notice a safer railroad crossing on the eastern end of the road, as the CSX railroad company is in the process of making upgrades to the crossing.

In early September, CSX placed electronic crossing lights at its railroad crossing near the intersection of Fulton Springs Road and Old Highway 31. As of Sept. 15, the crossing lights had not yet gone into service, and a pair of stop signs were still in place on both sides of the crossing.

Once the lights and crossing arms go into service, the two stop signs, which have been in place since the crossing opened, will be removed.

The electronic crossing also will remain in place in the future, as the city is planning to extend Fulton Springs Road – which currently terminates at Old U.S. 31 – through a currently vacant piece of property to U.S. 31.

Fulton Springs Road has seen increased traffic over the years, as motorists in the southern part of the city use the road to travel from U.S. 31 to Alabama 119.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry previously said the city has been working with the Alabama Department of Transportation, Shelby County Highway Department and the CSX railroad company to design and implement the project, which will open the undeveloped land south of the South Promenade shopping center for development.

A four-way stop currently is in place at the intersection of Fulton Springs Road and Old U.S. 31. Once Fulton Springs Road is connected with U.S. 31, two of the stop signs will be removed at the intersection, meaning traffic traveling on Fulton Springs Road will not stop.

Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said developers have expressed interest in bringing a retail development to the property, and said extending Fulton Springs Road through to U.S. 31 will allow easier access to the property.

As of Sept. 15, the city and possible developers had not announced plans for the proposed retail development, and had not disclosed which retailers are interested in the property.