DECATUR — Concerns over the speed limit within the city limits on Arkansas Highways 59 and 102 surfaced during the June 10 regular city council session at Decatur City Hall. The council wants the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department to reduce the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour along these stretches of both highways.
Over the last two years, accidents along both highways within the Decatur city limits have sent several area motorists to the hospital and resulted in three fatalities -- two on Arkansas 102 and one on Arkansas 59.
On Aug. 11, 2016, a 62 year-old Decatur resident was killed as a result of a head-on collision between two vehicles on Arkansas 59 at Crystal Lake Road. The speed limit on this section of road is 55. Less than a week later a three-car pileup at the same spot sent two area men to the hospital. The third driver escaped with only minor injuries and refused medical treatment.
In the last month, one Decatur area motorist who frequents Crystal Lake has had four cars pass at high rates of speed in the no-passing zone near the bridge. This section of Arkansas 59 is within the Decatur city limits.
One explanation for these accidents is that drivers heading southbound on Arkansas 59 traveling at highway speeds are not able to see vehicles stopped and waiting to turn onto Crystal Lake Road due to the hill, a curve in the road and a row of trees on the west side of the road.
Another area of concern is the new soccer field at Veterans Park, which is located next to Arkansas 102. The speed changes from 55 to 45 mph near the curve across from the Benton County Road Department substation, more than 1,000 yards east of the complex. The 55 mph zone near this complex could put young soccer players and motorists at risk of serious injury should a ball slip past the safety net.
A sidewalk is to be installed in 2018 from Veterans Park to Northside Elementary School to provide children a safer walk to school. But children will have to cross at the intersection of Mount Olive Road and Arkansas 102, well within the 55 mph speed zone, causing concern to city officials.
Former Decatur Police Chief Terry Luker sent an email to the AHTD Regional office in Harrison April 27 requesting the speed limit be lowered to 45 on Arkansas 102 from Mount Olive Road to Massy Street. In a June 6 reply to Joe Savage, current police chief, Bobby Keeton, District Nine assistant maintenance supervisor, denied the city's request to lower the speed limit in this area.
"Along with a review of the latest available crash data, the study included a radar speed check which resulted in the 85th percentile speed to be 53 mph where the posted speed limit is 55 mph," Keeton wrote. "'The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices' states the posted speed limit should be within 5 mph of the 85th percentile speed."
Decatur's city limits on north Arkansas 59 extend past Simmons Feed Mill to west of Bethlehem Road. To the south, the city limits extend to Waldrop Lane near TNT truck stop. To the east along Arkansas 102, the city limits extend to the Wolf Creek bridge near Compton Ridge Park on the south side of Crystal Lake.
The council, together with Tharp and city clerk Kim Wilkins, sent a signed letter, dated June 13, to AHTD requesting a review of the matter and a reduction of the speed limit on both state highways to 45 mph within the city limits.
"We have made this request because the safety of our citizens and visitors to our city is seriously in jeopardy," the letter states.
Over the last three years, Luker and city officials have repeatedly requested reviews of this issue. Each time they have been turned down.
According to the AHTD, "Traffic is not driving fast enough in these areas to warrant a reduction in speed."
The Decatur City Council vows to continue the fight to lower speed limits along both highways within the city limits.
The city's letter to AHTD states: "The city's traffic pattern is heavy with semi trucks, farmers, travelers, school buses and residents. It is our opinion that more accidents will occur if this speed limit is not reduced. Therefore, we as a city council urge you to act in an appropriate capacity to help us make our city safer."
General News on 06/28/2017