*Menu
Search
Submit
Greene County Daily World

Commissioners drop speed limit on Bolton Road

Monday, April 20, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor

A new lower speed limit on a rural Linton roadway was approved Monday morning by the Greene County Commissioners.

The commissioners, by a 2-1 vote, will move ahead with dropping the speed limit from 55 mph to 35 mph on Bolton Road -- from State Road 59 east to County Road 1175W.

Commissioner Steve Lindsey voted against the motion -- saying he thought 35 mph on the road was "awful slow" considering there are already several stop signs along the straight roadway.

"It's too slow," he said.

Commissioners President Bart Beard and Kermit Holtsclaw favored the lower speed.

Holtsclaw said, "We know that on a normal county road, especially a secondary county road there is no way you should be doing 55 miles per hour. I have seen people running more than 60.

Beard agreed and said, "They (motorists) do run extremely fast on that road."

He also cited that there have been several serious vehicle accidents on the road in the past.

Greene County Highway Superintendent Mike Hennette informed the commissioners that a recent study of the road showed heavy traffic and more than a half dozen vehicles that were clocked at speeds exceeding 65 mph.

Hennette added, "There's a lot of people that live on that road. There's a lot of kids and there are school buses that go down it and I think 35 is fine."

In jesting, Holtsclaw asked who was going to patrol the roads and make sure this speed limited is enforced.

He pointed out, "Maybe we should just add some speed bumps on it."

The new speed limit will be effective after a notice of the change is published in the Greene County Daily World and signs are erected.

The commissioners also agreed to establish a four-way stop at the intersection of Bolton and Park roads (CR 300N and CR 1100W) in a effort to further slow down traffic.

Changing the speed limit on this heavily traveled had been discussed for more than year.

Last month, Bolton Road resident John Brazzel presented a petition to the commissioners that contained the names of 27 residents along the county road who favored reducing the speed limit for safety reasons.

Comments
View 18 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

  • This is a great idea! I'm glad the Commissioners did this!! I used to live not far from this road and I agree that too many idiots drive like crazy down Bolton Road! The extra stop signs ought to help too. Now, hopefully, the police can enforce the new lower limits.

    p.s. - maybe they can do something about Lone Tree as well ;)

    -- Posted by zenos on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 3:42 PM

  • There are a lot of stop signs but a lot of people do not even slow down for them. The route of Lone Tree to Bolton has been the "Linton Bypass" for a long time. Lone Tree needs to be reduced as well.

    -- Posted by proud miner mom on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 3:42 PM

  • Lone Tree needs to be taken over by the state and turned into a state highway.

    -- Posted by cgarwood on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 4:08 PM

  • Well I hope during the "recent study of the road showed heavy traffic and more than a half dozen vehicles that were clocked at speeds exceeding 65 mph." Were there any speeding tickets given? Who did this study? I agree there needs to be a lower speed limit, but 35 seems low. Why not 45? If this is the case my road is used as a highway also can we get our lowered also? We have had many wrecks right infront of our house. We have a very dangerous intersection on our road, and yet nothing has been done!

    -- Posted by doodlebug on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 4:47 PM

  • I am glad there dropping the speed my husband had a really bad wreck on Park and Bolton a couple of years ago because someone ran the stop sign. So I think it's a good idea. And also there are lots of deer out on that road.

    -- Posted by AMyers8289 on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 4:59 PM

  • Lowering the speed limit wont slow most drivers down. raising the fines will. If you post signs saying minimun fine $300. or 30 hrs. road crew work I bet most will slow down. The roads dont cause the accidents drivers do.

    -- Posted by LT on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 6:13 PM

  • FIX THE POTHOLES. THE COUNTY ROADS ARE HORRIBLE.

    -- Posted by racingreencounty on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 6:22 PM

  • (1) Who wants to bet ten bucks they don't post the limits correctly making the new limit's unenforceable. (2) If they are not enforcing the stop signs (which are not legally posted) what makes you think the speed limit signs will be any different? (3) Seems like I read another story about cutting the county highway budget by over a half million dollars, so I guess speed limits that will likely be improperly posted and with no one to enforce them anyway is much more important than filling pot holes or plowing snow? I reckon you can guess which two commissioners I won't be supporting.

    -- Posted by keninman on Mon, Apr 20, 2009, at 6:31 PM

  • Ken, why don't you run for office? Your more qualified than most, seriously!

    -- Posted by Ex-Pat on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 7:39 AM

  • Just wondering Ken, what is wronge with the stop signs? Is it the placement? I have been going thru the Indiana MUTCD manuel and agree that most of if not all the newer speed limit signs that the county and city have recently put up are not in the proper place and wronge size.

    -- Posted by Littleguy on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 8:42 AM

  • Ken Inman

    All the stop signs can be enforced. There is a statue for disregarding a traffic device. People cant write for disregarding a stop sign because most intersections (expect highway) have been properly marked. All of the county highway speed limits can be enforced along as they go by the above method.

    Doodlebug

    Police can't write tickets for this survey because it was done by counters on the roadway. Police Officers did not perform this survey!!

    -- Posted by whocares on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 8:42 AM

  • The article says.

    Greene County Highway Superintendent Mike Hennette informed the commissioners that a recent study of the road showed heavy traffic and more than a half dozen vehicles that were clocked at speeds exceeding 65 mph

    WHO WAS DOING THE CLOCKING?

    -- Posted by Littleguy on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 9:56 AM

  • The article says,

    The commissioners also agreed to establish a four-way stop at the intersection of Bolton and Park roads (CR 300N and CR 1100W) in a effort to further slow down traffic.

    Section 2B.05 (stop sign application) of the Indiana MUTCD, stop signs should not be used for speed control.

    -- Posted by Littleguy on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 10:26 AM

  • Im going to guess that those cables connected to the control boxes that were stretched over the road had something to do with the monitoring. automation is such a good thing.

    -- Posted by minerpride on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 10:40 AM

  • If you have ever lived or traveled on Lone Tree Road you know the crazy driving, lack of light,

    narrow roads, and speeding. When will there be something done about that?

    -- Posted by peaceloveandprayers on Tue, Apr 21, 2009, at 2:33 PM

  • BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE POTHOLES THAT YOU HAVE TO MISS THAT COULD CAUSE A WRECK ALSO OR TEAR YOUR CAR UP... I SUGGEST TO FIX THE COUNTY ROADS FIRST BEFORE SPENDING THE MONEY ON THE SIGNS AND ETC...

    -- Posted by racingreencounty on Wed, Apr 22, 2009, at 1:46 AM

  • I agree with the placement of the stop sign, that intersection has always scared me. I personally feel that 35 is way too slow. 45 would be more acceptable.

    -- Posted by snapshots on Fri, Apr 24, 2009, at 9:10 AM

  • I'm all for safer roads. I think the added stop sign on Bolton Road is a good thing. I have personally seen an accident at that very intersection. The speed limit seems a little much - 45 would have been good. But, the bigger issue to me - when is something going to be done about Lone Tree? I have lived on this road for almost 10 years and people drive like maniacs on it! It's rediculous!

    -- Posted by chooselife on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, at 11:42 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: