Speeders on Short Main Street in Columbus, a residential extenuation of Main Street, will soon have a bumpy ride.
The Columbus City Council voted Tuesday to allow the public works department to place two speed bumps on the street in an effort to curtail speeders.
“The street is real wide,” said City Engineer Kevin Stafford. “The most economic way to reduce speed is to construct some speed bumps. We feel that two speed bumps will best serve the neighborhood.”
The speed bumps will be placed between 19th and 20th streets and 20th and 21st streets. Stafford said regulations require the speed bumps be placed at least 200 feet from stop signs and crossways.
“I haven’t put a cost estimate on the project yet,” Pratt said today. “The cost depends on how wide the streets are. Usually we just do a two-lane street, but this will be a full four lanes.”
At Stafford’s recommendation, the council also voted to reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.
“The speed limit in most residential areas is 25 miles per hour, so we felt reducing the speed limit would also help with speeders,”
Police Chief Selvain McQueen said the speed bumps and reduced speed limit are much-needed tools for the area, which extends behind Ali’s Quickstop.
“I’ve gotten a lot of calls about speeders because a lot of people cut through there,” McQueen said. “I’ve personally witnessed the speeding. The speed bumps should be great for the neighborhood.”
Pratt said the project is expected to start within three weeks.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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