Council approves change for Newcastle east-to-west roads west of Country Club
If you regularly drive the eastwest section line roads of Newcastle lying west of Country Club Road, you’ll soon notice that there has been a reduction in speed limit.
During their June 9 meeting, City Council members approved an across-the-board change in those roads to 35 miles per hour.
As Newcastle has grown, so has the traffic traveling these streets. City Manager Kevin Self explained to the Council that from Country Club to County Line, there are areas that are 45 mph that he said should clearly be a lower speed limit.
“To me, it makes sense to make a blanket 35-mph speed limit on all of these roads,” Self said.
He said many of the east-towest roads are narrow, drainage is limited, and there’s a limited amount of right-of-way. He said some are winding, and there are a lot of hills for drivers to navigate.
Council member Gene Reid said his neighbors have told him it is difficult to pull out onto these roads.
Council member Todd D’Amico said, “I like the proposal. I think it’s a great idea. When two vehicles are coming at each other on those narrow roads, there’s a tendency to slow down to probably slower than 35, so 35 is a great idea.”
Reid added that local residents who commute also had commented that they want to keep moving, but this change will bring a little more safety to that part of the City.
In related discussion, Council member Mike Fullerton said Oklahoma City has gone to a 40-mph zone on many of its roads. Mayor Karl Nail said the differences between Oklahoma City and Newcastle, however, are the amounts of right-of-way that are in place. Nail said Oklahoma City has larger right-of-way spaces than Newcastle has.
With the Council’s approval, the city wants members of the traveling public to be aware and watch for the changes on these streets.
