CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday night approved a maintenance agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) that will allow the placement of a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Olive Street Southwest, the “back way to Wal-Mart” for many Cullman residents. Mayor Woody Jacobs, who has worked closely with the City of Cullman Engineering Department’s Erica York and ALDOT on the plan, explained that the project will include more than just a light.
“It started out, kind of, as just a red light. And then, as ALDOT, the engineers and team studied it, they realized that it needed to be more than a red light with the way the hill was, coming into town (on Hwy. 31),” said Jacobs. “You know, people could come over that hill and, if they had to stop, there could be a pretty good wreck there.”
As motorists come over the hill in the right northbound lane of Hwy. 31, they will be directed to continue, regardless of the main traffic light. That light will control the left northbound lane, both southbound lanes, and Olive Street. Additionally, according to Jacobs, ALDOT will install acceleration and deceleration lanes, and the end of the service road on the west side of Hwy. 31 approaching Olive Street from the south will be closed at Olive Street.
The cost of the project has increased as the plans have become more elaborate, to a total of approximately $1.2 million. Federal and ALDOT funds will cover most of the cost, with the City contributing $159,000 and agreeing via Monday’s resolution to take care of the maintenance of the light.
Contract for next phase of airport upgrade awarded
The council also voted to award the contract for the third phase of the Cullman Regional Airport’s north taxiway reconstruction to Carcel & G Construction in the bid amount of $1,244,913.87. Airport General Manager Ben Harrison, who came to Monday’s meeting, explained the project involved reconstruction all the way down to the soil underneath the pavement. He said the current second phase of construction should be complete within the next two weeks. Phase three will complete the north taxiway. The south taxiway, runway and apron (aircraft parking area) have already been completed.
The overall goal of the project was to enable the paved areas of the airport to support the weight of larger and heavier aircraft, which will help make the Cullman area even more accessible and attractive to existing and potential future industries.
Said Harrison, “At some point in time, every industry in this community uses the airport.”
Between industrial, business and recreational flights, the airport sees an average of 800 operations per month.
Other council business
The council approved three special event requests:
- from Jim Cain of Diablo’s Southwest Grill to hold Carnival Days June 29, 2019 and June 30, 2019 from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the parking lot located at 1302 Second Ave. SW.
- from Jennifer Jacobs of Grumpy’s Italian Grill to hold a fundraiser on July 20, 2019 from 4-11 p.m. in the parking lot located at 402 Fifth St. SW. The event will raise money for Multiple Sclerosis treatment and the Cullman Parks and Recreation Foundation.
- from Mike Binkley of Choice Rentals to hold a fundraiser for Curt’s Closet on July 27, 2019 from noon-5 p.m. in the Town Square Shopping Center.
The council also approved the following ordinances and resolutions:
- Resolution No. 2019 – 59, to vacate and surplus Marline Drive Southeast
- Ordinance No. 2019 – 15, to vacate and surplus a utility easement on Lincoln Avenue Southwest and Fourth Street Southwest (U.S. Highway 278)
- Ordinance No. 2019 – 20, to annex property owned by Jason and Sunny Dyke located on 70 County Road 1322 as R-1 Residential District
- Resolution No. 2019 – 65 to enter into an agreement with the State of Alabama through ALDOT on bridge replacement on Convent Road Northeast over Eight Mile Creek (Larkwood Bridge).
- Resolution No. 2019 – 67 to award the bid for various types of concrete to the lowest responsible bidder, DCA Ready Mix USA, LLC.
The Cullman City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday nights of each month at 7 p.m. in the Cullman City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.
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A chart presented by Cullman Regional Airport General Manager Ben Harrison showed the various phases of the upgrade project. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
