City officials deny fault in Lowe’s signal

By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
With the opening of the new Lowe’s a little more than two months away, city officials are fending off criticism they didn’t do all they could to land a traffic signal at the intersection near the home-improvement store.
Lowe’s is currently under construction and scheduled to open Sept. 27. As part of its deal with Lowe’s, the city funded a traffic study with Skipper Consultants of Birmingham hoping to convince the Alabama Department of Transportation to install a signal at the intersection on Highway 31 leading into the development. Instead, city officials were told the traffic volume at the site didn’t warrant a signal.
City officials have been fending off criticism they didn’t turn in paperwork for the light on time. Johnson said that’s not true.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said he’s also heard comments about the city changing its plans for the Lowe’s entrance, a move that supposedly killed the signal request.
The Alabama Department of Transportation determines signal requests based on traffic count. The study determined traffic at this point was “operating at an acceptable level of service” but recommended a signal at the intersection to accommodate the increase once Lowe’s opens. The state didn’t follow the recommendation, however, and denied the request.
In a letter sent May 5 to the city from Johnny Harris, Division Engineer for the ALDOT, the state said, “It is the opinion of the Alabama Department of Transportation that this location should not be signalized at this time. Therefore, we cannot approve this request. Should additional developments occur which increase traffic volumes, this request can be reconsidered.”