Jefferson County supervisors approve lower speed limits on three chip and seal roads

FAIRFIELD – The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors agreed to lower speed limits Monday on three roads that have just received new chip and seal.

The three roads are Pleasant Plain Road, Douds Road and 110th Street. Jefferson County Engineer DeWayne Heintz asked that speed limits on all three roads be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph, to reduce the chance of fresh chips being flung from the road and damaging windshields. He said that posting an “advisory” speed limit was not enforceable, which is why he asked the supervisors to formally adjust the speed limit signs.

Supervisors Lee Dimmitt, Joe Ledger and Susie Drish agreed with Heintz’s suggestion, and will lower the posted speed limit through Sept. 1. Heintz said that, with a new posted limit, “at least you don’t have people going 65.”

Ledger added, “Whatever you post, they’re going to drive 10 over.”

Heintz told The Union last week that he wanted to warn motorists to drive slowly on the roads with fresh chip and seal because projected weekend temperatures were going to be above 90 and close to 100 degrees. During Monday morning’s supervisor meeting, Heintz said those roads did not “bleed” as much as he feared, with bleeding in only a couple of areas.

Heintz reiterated that he was sorry for the sticky asphalt motorists had to deal with on Pleasant Plain Road after it received new chip and seal June 12-13.

“A lot of people had an honest complaint,” he said. “We’ve been doing car washes, and we’ve seen a lot of minor oil spray, but some people had a holy mess.”

Heintz said he wanted the public to know that the county has changed the formula for its chip and seal after the bleeding that occurred on Pleasant Plain Road, and that it’s no longer applying a top coat of sand. He said that applying that layer of sand seemed to be OK when it was done earlier on 110th Street, but that’s because it was dry. He said the rain that hit the area on Friday, June 13 was a big reason that Pleasant Plain Road experienced so much asphalt bleeding, and why it stuck to car tires and undersides.

“Pleasant Plain shot us in the foot,” he said.

In other news, the supervisors voted to approve $500 toward Fairfield’s recent recognition as one of the Top 7 Intelligent Communities in the world. Fairfield resident Bob Ferguson was responsible for submitting Fairfield’s application. Ferguson needs to raise $1,500, and the supervisors agreed to pay $500 provided Ferguson could secure the rest of the funding from other organizations.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com