Speed limit change coming to avenue in Lakewood
LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) — The speed limit on a portion of Lake Avenue in Lakewood will be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph, starting Monday, June 3.
The speed limit change along the primarily residential avenue goes from the West 117th Street intersection to its end at Webb Road, according to a Thursday news release from the city.
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“The speed reduction on Lake Avenue will decrease risk for everyone — from walkers to cyclists to drivers and everyone in between,” Mayor and Safety Director Meghan George is quoted in a news release. “We see this change as another example of Lakewood’s holistic approach to safety.”
Drivers should notice “prominent” signs about the change, which will be up for a whole month before the new speed limit takes effect, according to the release.
There are no changes for the similarly named Lake Road farther west, which will keep its 25 mph speed limit, officials noted.
The decision was based on “years of traffic studies” and was a “complex” undertaking, officials said.
The city needed state approval for the change and before that, collected and analyzed data along the avenue in 2021 and 2023, according to the release.
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“You can’t just snap your fingers and change a speed limit, and that is a good thing,” city Engineer Mark Papke is quoted in the release. “In Ohio, it’s a complex, data-driven, multi-jurisdictional effort, which makes sense given how important these laws are for protecting the public.”
One of the main factors for the decision was the addition of bicycle lanes on the avenue in 2020. Residents also requested the change for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, according to the release.
After the bike lanes were painted, the city’s traffic data showed drivers were already being more cautious, traveling at an average speed of 30 mph.
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