Local News
Related Photos
-
Samantha Newburn
Discussion
Speed limit changes for Central School
A new advisory speed limit has been posted on U.S. 45 south of Effingham that may help ease the rush of traffic in front of Central School.
Unit 40 Superintendent Dr. Dan Clasby informed the board of education at its meeting Monday evening the Illinois Department of Transportation has approved a 45 mph advisory speed limit in front of the school. The advisory speed was posted Oct. 26.
A total of eight high-intensity green signs are posted on the highway, with four on each side of the road. Half of the signs are posted on the highway at the entrance of the school’s parking lot and the other half are at the exit of the lot. The first signs drivers will see are two school advance signs, and the next two signs post the advised speed limit.
The signs that state the advised speed limit also are equipped with flashing beacons that blink during the heavy rush of traffic, which on school days is approximately 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m.
According to IDOT Traffic Operations Engineer Dewayne Seachrist, the posted advisories are to warn drivers of the heavy volume of traffic on the highway, but the enforceable speed limit is still 55 miles per hour.
Clasby, along with Effingham County Sheriff John Monnet and Central School bus driver Allen Birch, recently met with IDOT representatives to resolve the ongoing traffic flow problem in front of the school.
Erecting a stop light at the school’s exit was discussed, but IDOT suggested that it would cause more harm than good because of limited visibility due to the curve in the highway on the south side of the school, therefore increasing the likelihood of more fender benders.
School officials also suggested the posted speed limit be the typical 20 mile per hour school zone. School speed zones are typically set at such a low speed because of students using sidwalks and crosswalks. But because of Central’s rural location, students are not allowed to walk or ride a bike to or from school.
The idea for a change in traffic flow began when school officials and parents became concerned because of the heavy volume of traffic in the morning when school is starting and in the afternoon when school is getting out.
It was a struggle for parents and bus drivers picking up or dropping off students to merge with traffic on the highway. Community members and school officials were concerned about the issue and made a suggestion to meet with IDOT and solve the ongoing problem.
At the board of education meeting, Clasby said he was happy with the meeting with IDOT and believed the resolution will be successful.
“I’ve already seen a change in traffic,” said Clasby.
Samantha Newburn may be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or samantha.newburn@effinghamdailynews.com.
- Local News
-
-
A dream come true
The Early Learning Center in Effingham has two new additions to its playground this year, and it’s not shiny new slides or colorful jungle gyms.
-
T-town village donates to school programs
Teutopolis hasn’t had a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program for more than a decade, but the village still had a fund for donations that had been made to the program.
-
Alcohol sales stir up extra revenue
Since voters allowed liquor sales in Farina earlier this year, village officials and store owners have noticed a change — and it’s positive.
-
Police release 'person of interest' sketch in Schmitt murder investigation
Effingham police released a sketch Tuesday of a "person of interest" in the June murder of Effingham resident Jack Schmitt.
-
Elderly couple escapes burning house thanks to neighbor
An elderly Shumway couple was able to escape a house fire unharmed Sunday night thanks to a neighbor who alerted the fire department and came to the aid of the husband and wife.
-
Giving Back
In many ways, Autumn Worton is like many other 21-year-old women.
-
Making a Difference
Mack Myers of Kinmundy has lived with a hereditary neurological disorder his entire life, and he credits the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for helping him cope with the disorder that’s affected him since 1947.
-
Area unemployment inches higher
Unemployment rates increased in nearly every area county last month, according to monthly statistics released this week by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
-
Local historians want to preserve, relocate bowstring bridge
The old Flensburg bridge is a rare glimpse into days gone by, though the modern-day resident has to use some imagination to see the bridge’s historical significance.
-
Drug checkpoint questionable
Motorists traveling southbound on Interstate 57 near Kinmundy Tuesday morning drove through a drug interdiction checkpoint — the first-ever in Marion County — even though the U.S. Supreme Court has taken a dim view of similar efforts.
- More Local News Headlines
-
