DAPHNE, Ala.—The Daphne City Council at Monday’s council meeting unanimously approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for Highway 98 median improvements.

The improvements — happening just south of Interstate 10 and D’Olive Creek — would cost the city around $48,500.

According to the proposal, the city would only have to pay for the engineering costs, while the Alabama Department of Transportation pays for the construction costs of more than $154,600.

“ALDOT would like to see some upgrades in that area,” Mayor Fred Small said.

Daphne Public Works Director Richard Johnson said that crossover reported a high number of accidents over the past three years, and some have included injuries.

The improvements include adding a directional raised island in the median opening, closing the opening to the west service road going south, adding a directional island along the west service road, adding a guard rail near the I-10 35-A exit ramp and adding a sidewalk along the west frontage road, Johnson said.

A directional raised island means cars coming from the service roads and into the highway would not be able to go across the highway.

Johnson said that construction would only affect that specific crossover, but there could be one-lane traffic on the highway for a short period.

“We will meet again with the business owners in that area before we move forward to let them know what is going on,” Small said.

The item was first brought before the Finance Committee in November.