The Watchdog | Flashing lights and speed limits cause confusion

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Today’s problem

Margaret Lyddon of Overland Park has two questions:

First, she asks, what’s up with the flashing stop light at 135th Street and Briar Drive? It is almost impossible to turn off Briar going either way on 135th Street in the morning.

Her second question is more complex. She thinks the speed limits on two stretches of Roe Avenue should be reversed.

It’s 35 miles per hour going north from 135th Street to 122nd Street, which carries moderate traffic and serves housing developments. It changes to 45 miles per hour at Tomahawk Creek Parkway, just as Roe gets into shopping areas, apartment projects and other businesses. What gives?

The answer

Joe Johnson, public works director for Leawood, said the city has been trying to determine why the signal at 135th and Briar keeps going into flash mode. Crews have installed equipment to track the problem and tell why it happens. They hope to have that information soon and use it to fix the signal.

As for the speed limits on Roe, Johnson has that answer, too.

When the southern stretch of Roe was widened to four lanes, the posted limit was 35 miles per hour because the road was undivided. The roads with 45-mile limits are divided roadways with controlled access for turning. South of 121st Street, Roe has many side streets that do not align with each other to allow for a divided roadway with median cuts, so the 35-mile limit is appropriate.

The Watchdog wonders why, on main drags like Roe, cities permit side streets that don’t line up.

Do you have a comment or question about a public issue? Write to The Watchdog, The Kansas City Star, Newsroom, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108, or send e-mail to watchdog@kcstar.com. Include your name, telephone number and city of residence.

Posted on Tue, Oct. 27, 2009 10:43 PM

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