City of Springfield installs speed humps on neighborhood streets near Highway 65

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Several neighborhood streets near Highway 65 now have speed humps as the city works to crack down on speeding in residential areas.

The new traffic calming measures were installed on East Bennett Street, Linwood Street, John Avenue, and Gelvin Avenue as part of a pilot program that incorporates speed humps, or cushions, into road resurfacing projects.

“The high speeds - we’re seeing 65 to 70 miles an hour, and that’s excessive, and it’s scary to see vehicles go through your neighborhood that quickly,” said Grady Porter, engineer with Springfield’s Traffic Engineering Department.

Residents report speeding problems

Neighbors say the section of Bennett Street, which ends just west of Highway 65, is notorious for speeding and accidents.

“People would come around this corner from Ingram Mill onto Bennett Street here and just speed, flying down through there,” said Mike McKee, who lives nearby.

Trish Bridwell, another nearby resident, said she has seen police stop people for speeding through the area.

“They used to, in the summertime, drag race through here, because it’s like a straightaway,” Bridwell said.

McKee said winter conditions made the area particularly dangerous.

“Something that was always really bad, like during the winter, they would slide right through the intersection and hit the guardrail,” he said.

Pilot program targets quality of life

Porter said the speed humps are part of a pilot program that allows crews to add traffic calming measures when they resurface roads.

On Bennett Street, three new speed humps were installed between Ingram Mill Road and Catalina Avenue after the city received numerous complaints about speeding. All across the city, Porter said, calls come in every day with complaints about speeding drivers.

“I think people want people to slow down in their neighborhoods. That’s where they walk. That’s where their kids are playing in the front yard. I think it’s going to be a good thing for the quality of place in the neighborhoods,” Porter said.

The city plans to give drivers time to adjust to the new roads before collecting data in the spring to measure the impact of the speed humps.

Porter said the city takes a comprehensive approach when installing the traffic calming measures.

“Whenever we place these, we need to look at it in a holistic approach in the neighborhood. So we need to put them on streets where if they [speeding drivers] are diverted, they’re diverted to a higher classification street,” Porter said.

Early results show promise

Residents say they have already noticed a difference since the speed humps were installed.

“The speed humps have really just slowed it really down. Now they kind of race up and down Ingram Mill, but not as bad as they were here,” McKee said. “Oh yeah, big difference.”

The city says if you do have concerns about roads in your neighborhoods, you can submit a service request at Springfield.gov or call 417-864-1010.

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