FORT SMITH, Ark. -
Drivers in Fort Smith will soon see changes to the speed limit on several highly-traveled streets, after city directors voted this week to increase some limits.
The city street department was recently asked by Mayor Ray Baker to study the effects or raising the speed limit in a handful of areas by five miles an hour, either to match other stretches of the street or be more of a convenience for drivers. After reviewing their findings with the police department, they were presented to the board of directors, which approved the new limits this past Tuesday.
Garry Cathcart, a supervisor at the street department, said some of the changes were a bit overdue.
"All the streets that the mayor asked us to look at are streets that have been improved," said Cathcart. "The speed limits were put in place when these were two-lane roads."
The streets raised to 35 miles per hour include Grand Avenue between North 10th and Greenwood, and South Waldron Road from Free Ferry to Rogers. Portions of Massard Road and Chad Colley Boulevard near Chaffee Crossing were also increased from 35 to 40 miles per hour.
"Grand Avenue is one of those streets that is 35 miles per hour from the interstate into nearby downtown, then all of a sudden it drops to a 30 mile per hour zone," said Capt. Overton. "We're figuring it'll be simpler for the motorists, to drop it to 35 miles per hour."
However, one street that was reviewed will stay its current speed; a portion of Old Greenwood Road near Phoenix Avenue, which has a lot of homes and pedestrian traffic.
"The neighbors felt that 40 was too fast for them to exit out onto Old Greenwood Road, we just left that alone, we just left it at 35," said Cathcart.
The changes will take time to put into place. Police say drivers should obey all posted speed limits until the signs are changed, and when you're enjoying those new speeds, don't forget that some of the affected streets pass through school zones.
"This won't change the school zone speed limit, it's 25 miles per hour when the lights are flashing, and that won't change at all in the morning or evening," said Overton.
People with questions about these changes can call the fort smith street department for more information.
The city street department was recently asked by Mayor Ray Baker to study the effects or raising the speed limit in a handful of areas by five miles an hour, either to match other stretches of the street or be more of a convenience for drivers. After reviewing their findings with the police department, they were presented to the board of directors, which approved the new limits this past Tuesday.
Garry Cathcart, a supervisor at the street department, said some of the changes were a bit overdue.
"All the streets that the mayor asked us to look at are streets that have been improved," said Cathcart. "The speed limits were put in place when these were two-lane roads."
The streets raised to 35 miles per hour include Grand Avenue between North 10th and Greenwood, and South Waldron Road from Free Ferry to Rogers. Portions of Massard Road and Chad Colley Boulevard near Chaffee Crossing were also increased from 35 to 40 miles per hour.
"Grand Avenue is one of those streets that is 35 miles per hour from the interstate into nearby downtown, then all of a sudden it drops to a 30 mile per hour zone," said Capt. Overton. "We're figuring it'll be simpler for the motorists, to drop it to 35 miles per hour."
However, one street that was reviewed will stay its current speed; a portion of Old Greenwood Road near Phoenix Avenue, which has a lot of homes and pedestrian traffic.
"The neighbors felt that 40 was too fast for them to exit out onto Old Greenwood Road, we just left that alone, we just left it at 35," said Cathcart.
The changes will take time to put into place. Police say drivers should obey all posted speed limits until the signs are changed, and when you're enjoying those new speeds, don't forget that some of the affected streets pass through school zones.
"This won't change the school zone speed limit, it's 25 miles per hour when the lights are flashing, and that won't change at all in the morning or evening," said Overton.
People with questions about these changes can call the fort smith street department for more information.
