No truth to ‘ticket camera’ rumors

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Vehicles proceed through a red light at the intersection of U.S. Highways 278 and 31 Monday afternoon in Cullman. The vehicles won’t have to worry about receiving tickets for the offense. Rumors circulating that the sensors on the new traffic poles are cameras are untrue. Amanda Shavers-Davis
Amanda Shavers-Davis

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December 1, 2009

By Tiffany Green The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Tue Dec 01, 2009, 08:04 AM CST

CULLMAN — Citizens are not the only ones confused about the supposed traffic cameras recently installed at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and U.S. Highway 278.

The mayor, street department superintendent and others seemed to think cameras were installed at the new traffic signal. However, they are not cameras at all, but traffic sensors.

The confusion was due partly to a change in administration during the beginning of the project.

Cullman Mayor Max Townson was told cameras were being installed at the intersection, and had no reason to believe differently. He thought the cameras that were supposedly being installed and were to be activated at a later time, when the budget allowed for it.

But the devices, called video detection cameras, monitor traffic flow.

“Normally traffic controls are put in wire under the asphalt and in this case, in replace of traffic loops underground, cameras that sense traffic were put on the poles of the traffic signals,” said Chuck Chitwood, with CDG Engineers in Albertville, who completed the work.

This will allow for future work on the asphalt street, without damage to the underground wiring.

Although they look like cameras, they only act as sensors to help traffic flow more smoothly.

“They do not take pictures,” Chitwood said. “They just monitor the traffic flow”

The sensors will control traffic flow better by monitoring cars at the intersection and changing the lights when needed.

“Usually there are underground sensors, but this is a way to monitor the traffic flow without putting the sensors under the asphalt,” said Rick Henry, superintendent of the City of Cullman’s Street Department.

Townson said the sensors are part of the downtown revitalization project and sees them as a way to reducing speeding.

“We have a speeding problem in Cullman, he said. “We didn’t try to create a speed trap. We are just trying to keep everyone safe.”

Townson wanted to remind people the speed limit through downtown is 30 miles per hour.

Townson said one of the biggest complaints is excessive speed through town, especially with 18-wheelers.

“We want people to slow down in the downtown area,” Townson said.

The $163,000 project included the poles, signals, sensors and all work done on the intersection.

The project was funded by the city, but all future projects will be funded through grants, Townson said.

“It was allocated before I came in and paid for by the city and budgeted in 2008,” Townson said. “From this point forward, it will be grant money.”

“I think you may see these at many intersections in the future,” Henry said.

The Cullman City Council approved an agreement with CDG Engineers for phase III of the downtown initiative, which will bring renovations to the intersection of U.S. Highway 278 and U.S. Highway 31, from First Avenue to Third Avenue.

The streetscaping project includes the renovation of older water and sewer lines, re-bricking of sidewalks, new pedestrian lighting, landscaping, new signalization, flower beds and benches on various downtown streets. The city is also adding “bump-outs,” which allow for more greenery on city streets.

Phase II should begin at the start of the new year, with work from Hwy. 31 towards Traditions Bank and Phase III will follow with work from 1st Ave. going West to 3rd Ave., near the parking deck.

* Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.

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