There have been a number of serious crashes on Alabama 251 over the past two years, and the intersection of Bethel Road has become a particularly dangerous spot.

On Sept. 18, Yaga Traore, 72, of Huntsville, died when his Toyota collided with a pickup truck on Alabama 251 near Bethel Road about 2:40 p.m. Another dangerous stretch is between Yarbrough and Linton Roads, where two fatalities occurred between July 2007 and September 2010.

Improvements were recently made to the intersection of 251 and Bethel, thanks to a $3,188.28 TVA-in-lieu-of-tax appropriation presented by State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison. The funds provided rumble strips and a caution light for the intersection.

“With the recent traffic accidents, the addition of the (safety upgrades) will increase awareness of the stop sign and help decrease future accidents,” Holtzclaw said.

Another appropriation awarded by Holtzclaw in the amount of $3,966.40 provided improvements to the Oak Grove Thach Volunteer Fire Department in the form of gravel for the department’s parking lot. He said the new surface would improve the department’s ability to get in and out more quickly, thereby decreasing response time.

Limestone County’s District 1 Commissioner Stanley Hill said he appreciated Holtzclaw’s assistance. The senator said he was happy to help.

“These two projects demonstrate the strong partnership between the community, the Limestone County Commission and myself in ensuring that we prioritize public safety,” he said. “Projects like these are all about teamwork, and I am proud to be a part of the team.”