Published: July 31, 2009 01:38 pm      

Neighbors: Speed a problem in Woodlawn in Jeffersonville

Police patrols to step up on Myrtle, William and Mary streets

Police patrols of Myrtle, William and Mary streets are expected to increase after residents complained of speeders in the area.

The problems were voiced during a Wednesday morning meeting of Jeffersonville’s Board of Public Works and Safety.

The neighborhood is packed with children, and motorists speed through the area, said Gina Lawrence.

She said her child was almost hit in an incident this week.

“It’s all-day long, all kinds of people,” said Jennifer Hilton, a fellow resident. “We need something to protect our children.”

The two asked the board to consider putting speed swells or speed bumps on the road.

However, city engineer Bob Miller, chairing the meeting in place of Mayor Tom Galligan, said that probably wouldn’t help.

“We have one speed hump … in Northaven. It’s not working,” he said.

Additionally, he pointed out that speed swells could be hazardous to emergency services that need to get to places in a hurry.

“I don’t think that’s the answer to our problem,” he said.

He requested that police officers do extra patrols in the neighborhood.

He told the pair to come back before the board in two weeks if the problems weren’t remedied.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• The board approved road closures for portions of Utica-Sellersburg Road, near New Chapel Road, while sewer lines are installed.

Sections of the road will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to through traffic for more than a week in some cases. Local traffic will be able to access the road and detour signage will be posted.

There is no exact date, but the project should start in the next two to three weeks, officials said.

Councilwoman Barbara Wilson said it was a shame that the work would take so long, but noted “that work definitely needs to be done.”