MOUNT VERNON — Mayor Richard Mavis said he is expecting the Ohio Department of Transportation to fund a study that may result in the lowering of the speed limit along a stretch of Gambier Road.
Mavis said he spoke with a representative from ODOT this week, who told him the department would pay for a traffic study on a stretch of Gambier Road (Ohio 229). The mayor was required to send a letter to ODOT formally requesting the study be done, which he said he did on Tuesday. He said this letter may well result in a reduction of the speed limit on that stretch of Gambier Road, roughly from Eastern Star Road to the Center Run bridge.
In recent months, Mount Vernon City Council has discussed a proposal to lower the speed limit on this stretch of roadway from 45 mph to 35 mph. A number of residents in the area have complained that traffic — particularly truck traffic — travels at a high rate of speed along that section of the highway and creates a safety hazard. Safety-Service Director Dave Glass had said the city would have to pay to have a traffic study done to show ODOT that the change was warranted, since ODOT has the final authority to decide whether to change the speed limit or not. The city will avoid the expense if ODOT pays for the study.
In other city news, the mayor said:
•A study that will add lefthand turn lanes to each of the four stops at the intersection of Gambier Road and Edgewood Road should go to bid soon. The county and city worked together to get this project moving. He said Richland Engineering of Mansfield is completing the design and he expects the project to go to bid in the spring. There is currently a lefthand turn lane at the intersection for traffic that approaches the intersection from the south on Edgewood Road.
•The city parks department recently installed new safer and more modern playground equipment at Hiawatha Park. Old equipment that was deemed dangerous by today’s standards was replaced.
•Two picnic shelters were also recently erected at Foundation Park. The local Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club donated the funds provided the funds for the shelters. The concrete bases for the shelters will be laid as weather permits.