Traveling along Old Montgomery Highway could soon become safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

Probate Judge Kim Ballard and Dallas County Commissioner Connel Towns said this week they are working with the City of Selma and Alabama Power to get streetlights installed along a portion of the roadway.

“We have met with Alabama Power to discuss this project, and they are working now to plan how far apart the lights would need to be, if they can be installed on existing power poles and how far down the highway we want to place them,” Ballard said.

Ballard said he expects to meet with Towns, Selma Mayor George Evans and representatives from Alabama Power next week to discuss the cost and feasibility of the project.

“It’s a unique area out there, because it is in the county, but it is also in the police jurisdiction,” Ballard said. “So we have a meeting set up for next week with the mayor to do this as a joint project.”

Towns said cooperation between all the interested parties would be needed to make the project a reality.

“We want the city, the county and Alabama Power to come together to work out a solution to light Old Montgomery Highway,” Towns said. “If all these entities work together, we should be able to find a way to light Old Montgomery Highway.”

Evans said he is looking forward to helping the project become a reality.

“I fully support any project trying to combat crime and improve the overall safety for people in the community,” Evans said. “Poor lighting like this is a problem that exists all over the city and county, but I think if the citizens and governments can pool our assets, we can get this taken care of.”

Ballard said since the proposed lights would be installed on existing power poles, they could only be placed along Old Montgomery Highway between the Cecil Jackson Bypass and its intersection with U.S. Highway 80, as there are no poles beyond that point.

Roderick Prince, who lives on Old Montgomery Highway, said the lights would be a welcome addition to the roadway.

“It would make life better out here,” Prince said. “Right now, it’s not safe for people driving on the road or people walking down the road. Some nights, I’ll go for a walk down the road, and it’s just not safe now.”

Towns is hosting a community meeting Thursday, July 24 at 6 p.m. at New Selmont Baptist Church to discuss the lighting project and other topics with Selmont residents.