Crosswalk

The death of a woman attempting to cross U.S. 278 West on Thursday night will bring some changes for pedestrians in the area.

Janis Simmons, 74, was attempting to cross the highway using a walker when she was hit by a pickup truck. Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick pronounced her dead at the scene. A man was struck by an 18-wheeler two weeks ago not far from where she died. He survived by suffered numerous injuries.

Cullman Police Kenny Culpepper revisited the scene Friday with Cullman Power Board officials and made contact with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDO), which has jurisdiction over the highway.

“ALDOT is going to add some signs that instruct pedestrians they must use designated crosswalks to go across the highway.

“This may seem like an inconvenience to some people, but the intention has always been that going across the highway should be done at the crosswalks,” Culpepper said. “There is one at West Elementary that has a button to push that changes the traffic signal. The students use it before and after school, but it can be used by anyone attempting to cross the highway. The other crosswalk is by Johnny’s Bar-B-Q. There is not a traffic signal.”

ALDOT, when it was constructing barriers along the center of U.S. 278, installed a concrete island for pedestrians where they can stop safely when crossing the road at the crosswalk near Johnny’s.

The Cullman Power Board added some lighting Friday around the crosswalks.

“Our board is going to talk about the situation along U.S. 278. We installed new, regulation lighting approved by ALDOT before the 2011 tornadoes,” said Cullman Power General Manager Mike Manning. “We will have ALDOT look again to see what else they can recommend in the area.”

While Cullman Power employees were in the area Friday morning they witnessed a near-accident involving a pedestrian who was crossing the road in a wheelchair.

Numerous residents live in the neighborhoods behind West Elementary as well as on other south side of U.S. 278 behind businesses.

Police believe Simmons was trying to get to a store Thursday when she was struck.

The speed limit in the area where the accidents occurred is 45 miles per hour. Culpepper said speed is reduced to 35 before and after school hours for a limited time.

“We have an officer helping with traffic during the time students are coming and going from the school, and they’ve written quite a few tickets from people going over the speed limit,” Culpepper said.

The traffic signal at West Elementary is under the jurisdiction of ALDOT and is set to remain green in the east-west directions to keep traffic moving steadily, Culpepper said. The light will change when a pedestrian pushes the button at the crosswalk or when a vehicle coming from Rosemont Avenue comes to the intersection.

“During school hours it has not been a problem about students using the crosswalk. The concern is after hours. The crosswalks are the required place to get across the highway and it can seem like an inconvenience, but they need to be used,” Culpepper said.

Culpepper said officers will continue to monitor the area for speed and safety following the accidents.