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WEIRTON -- The city's Traffic Commission has recommended the installation of a "speed hump" on one residential street in an effort to curb an ongoing speeding concern in the area.
The proposal is focused on an area of North 10th Street between Sunset Street and Owings Street, and had been tabled at two previous meetings after being requested by Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell.
Initially, Connell had requested the use of speed bumps in an effort to address what he said was excessive speed on the street, which has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. During Thursday's meeting, though, he asked about the possibility of speed humps, referring to a similar system used on Springdale Avenue in Wintersville.
Connell said he had spoken to residents of that street to learn their thoughts on the humps, which have more gradual slope and longer length than typical speed bumps.
"They said 'we love them,'" Connell said, adding he was told the humps force drivers to go through the area more slowly.
Public Works Director Allen Hess initially expressed concern, noting higher grade humps used in Morgantown, which he said officials there noted had been used by youth to launch their cars while speeding. He said, though, a lower grade approach could assist with speed control and also wouldn't be as detrimental to the city's plow trucks as previously used bumps and rumble strips.
Pointing out the original request had been for two such devices, and the grade of the hills traversed by the street, Commissioner John Castelli asked if one hump would be adequate.
"Chances are, I'm not going to be able to speed up that much," he said.
Hess said, as asphalt would be used for the hump, it couldn't be installed until the spring.
Connell expressed his appreciation for the commission's consideration, saying he is attempting to ensure the safety of residents in the area.
"I'm trying to do something instead of doing nothing," he said, noting another possible option would be to reduce the speed limit.
Police Chief Charlie Kush said he had stationed the city's speed trailer and patrol officers in the area, and found the average speed to be below 25 mph during those times.
"They got more stop sign violations," he said.
While the commission made the recommendation, some did express concern about possibly being flooded with such requests as more residents ask for measures to tackle speeding concerns in the city.
In other business, Thursday, the Traffic Commission:
Denied a request for a yellow curb in front of 264 Beech Road;
Approved a dedicated handicap parking spot for the residents at 508 North 10th St;
Took no action on a request for speed bumps on Weir Avenue in the areas of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Shiloh Apostolic Faith Church. As the request had been tabled by the commission in September and October, it will not move forward.