Haskel Burns

American Staff Writer

A member of Hattiesburg City Council has raised concerns about traffic in downtown Hattiesburg, including that of the 18-wheel variety.

During a recent council meeting, Ward 4 Councilwoman Mary Dryden spoke with Hattiesburg Public Works Director Larry Barnes about the flow of traffic through downtown and enforcing the use of proper routes for the big trucks.

"Right before the meeting today, there was a huge 18-wheeler that came from the direction of Bay Street and went all the way through downtown," she said. "Also, there was recently — I think it was an intoxicated driver — who was speeding on Mobile Street and hit a light pole, and the car ended up just inches from a home that a couple lived in.

"So this is really just looking at downtown traffic, and it's kind of a philosophical thing here. We don't want downtown to be a pass-through — we want it to be a destination — and we formed truck routes for that reason, so that way trucks aren't coming through downtown."

McMurtrey: If there’s a law, enforce it

According to a Hattiesburg ordinance, "it is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to operate or cause to be operated a commercial truck, as hereinafter defined, on any street, road, public right-of-way, or highway unless that route has been designated by this Chapter as one on which commercial truck traffic is permitted."

The ordinance goes on to state, "it shall be unlawful to operate a commercial vehicle 10,000 pounds or larger on other than designated truck routes, except when making a delivery or pickup." Vehicles that are not classified as commercial vehicles include all emergency vehicles, farm tractors and equipment, utility service vehicles, city vehicles and road construction equipment.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Deborah Delgado said residents of her ward also have brought up the issue with her, and asked Barnes to address the police department about issuing tickets to violators.

"I get similar complaints about other streets that they shouldn't be going down, (and I'm wondering) if there might be an effort to (deal with) all of them," she said.

Barnes said he was aware of the complaints, but that enforcing the code can sometimes be a little problematic.

"You have to understand that we do have truck drivers, and those trucks have to get off those routes sometimes to take the quickest route to their destination that they are going to," he said. "So when we catch them, we also have to talk to them to see if they're abiding by the rules and trying to get to the quickest route.

"Some of them tell us they're going here or there, so that is a problem in itself right there. But we have increased patrols downtown."

Barnes said he has spoken with officials from the city's traffic division and is working to find a solution to the issue.

"I think you can go in and look at the truck routes and post the signs," he said. "But we'll have to get with the police to make sure they're holding people accountable and watching to make sure the trucks are not coming through."

Barnes also plans to put up more signs throughout downtown directing trucks to the proper routes.

"So we're already in the process of that part," he said. "I think once we do that, then pretty much we can take it from there. But we will do our part to put up the signs so trucks will know that (a particular route) is one you can take and not go through downtown."

Downtown Hattiesburg booming with business