Council debates speed limits

    A spokesman for the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) addressed the Washington City Council Wednesday about the speed of vehicles on Highway 92 near Walmart. The council had requested that a speed study be done on the road to find out the average speed of vehicles and whether or not they respected the posted speed limits. Frank Redeker, who spoke on behalf of the DOT, said that the speed study revealed that drivers do not pay close attention to the speed limit signs.

    Redeker gave the council a list of proposed changes to the speed signs to make them conform to how fast drivers really drive on the road. Redeker recommended lowering the speed sign from 55 to 50 for the eastbound traffic on Highway 92 between the airport road and Wiley Avenue, which is the entrance to Walmart. He also recommended raising the speed limit in the city from 30 to 35 for both east and westbound traffic between Seventh and 15th Avenue.

    ?This is just a recommendation,? said Redeker. ?No changes will happen tonight. If you wish to go with this or go with part of it, that?s fine. If you want to leave the signs as they are, that?s fine, too.?

For more, see our March 18 print edition.