More lights on the way

Published 11:52 pm Saturday, August 27, 2011

A slight delay in reworking a support pole at the intersection of Dallas Avenue and Hooper Drive might have been an inconvenience to motorists for a few days, but the next project at that intersection will be much more substantial.

That intersection, along with one at Broad Street and L.L. Anderson Avenue, will be the next two locations to play host to red light traffic cameras.

According to Selma Chief of Police William T. Riley, work on installing those cameras should be completed in the next 30 to 60 days.

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“Our hope is that they both can be installed and begin operation simultaneously,” Riley said. “Right now, we are looking at no more than 60 days to have both of them up and running.”

The city’s first red light traffic camera, at the intersection of J.L. Chestnut Boulevard and Franklin Street, has been issuing citations for nearly a month and Riley said his department has seen the number of infractions level off since the camera first went active.

“We have noticed that the number of citations has leveled off,” Riley said. “I don’t have those numbers right now to state for certain, but we know that it is making a difference.”

American Traffic Solutions, the Arizona-based company contracted to install and operate the lights, was slightly delayed when the Alabama Department of Transportation stepped in to replace a support pole on Dallas Avenue.

With that work now complete, the company, which is working on a project in Montgomery, is now positioned to begin working on installing the next two cameras.

Riley said the public would be made aware of when the two new cameras would start issuing citations, but don’t expect another grace period like the one that was given to drivers when the camera on J.L. Chestnut Boulevard went live.

“We will do our best to let everyone know,” Riley said. “But when it begins issuing citations, there won’t be any warnings.”
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