By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Eighteen-wheelers and certain other large vehicles are now limited to travel on certain roads in Alabaster after the City Council voted to define several truck routes during a Feb. 22 meeting.

During the meeting, council members voted unanimously to define several routes trucks and large vehicles are allowed to drive on while traveling through the city. Before the ordinance was passed, Alabaster had no regulations on where such vehicles were allowed to travel in the city.

The council’s vote came after a public hearing on the matter, during which nobody spoke for or against the ordinance.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry previously said most trucks and heavy vehicles were already traveling on the routes laid out in the ordinance, but said the ordinance will allow the city to now enforce the routes.

Vehicles covered under the new truck route ordinance have tandem axles, tri-axles or larger axle configurations, have gross weights of 10,001 or more pounds, are designed to transport more than eight people for compensation or are designed to transport more than 15 people without compensation.

The following roads in Alabaster are now defined as truck routes under the ordinance:

-Interstate 65

-U.S. 31

-Alabama 119

-Shelby County 11

-Shelby County 26 east of Alabama 119

-Shelby County 44 from Sixth Street Southwest to First Street Northwest

-First Street Northwest

-Second Place Northwest

-Shelby County 17

-Shelby County 12 from Shelby County 17 to Shelby County 80

-Shelby County 80

-Shelby County 87

-Old Highway 31 from 16^th Avenue Southeast to U.S. 31

Vehicles performing local pickups, deliveries or repairs are allowed to travel off the truck routes, and emergency vehicles, school buses, church buses and municipal and utility services trucks are allowed to travel throughout the city.

The city is now working to post signs designating the truck routes. Violations of the ordinance are punishable by up to a $500 fine or up to 180 days in the city jail.