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By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham City Council approved a resolution to upgrade 11 traffic intersections from the current loop detection system to a camera detection system at a city council meeting on Monday, Dec. 2.

The resolution was unanimously approved to enter into an agreement with Gresham Smith to provide engineering services to upgrade the traffic lights at the 11 intersections. These 11 intersections joins the 12 intersections completed this year for a total of 23 traffic intersections that will feature the new thermal imaging cameras.

According to the Pelham city website, the thermal cameras detect vehicles in turn lanes and trigger the intersection signals according to the real-time traffic. In addition, the new system is easier to maintain.

“Thermal cameras offer a more streamlined installation process and are easier to maintain,” the website reads. “Because these cameras are mounted on street lights, crews will no longer have to tear up the road to make repairs or replace equipment. The new system will use thermal imaging and video cameras to detect vehicles in the turn lanes and cross streets to trigger the signal to cycle for those movements.”

Those interested in more information about current city projects can visit Pelhamalabama.gov/1151/City-Projects.