By DALE HOGG
Barton County Media Consultant
For the safety and convenience of local residents, the Barton County Commission on Tuesday morning approved two resolutions to establish new speed limits for roadways in and around the new Hidden Hills Estates Addition, located northwest of Claflin in the Independent Township. County Engineer Barry McManaman recommended the new limits to improve safety for residents and motorists.
With 17 planned new homes, “this is going to become more of a traffic generator,” he said about the neighborhood. The changes will allow for a stepped-down speed limit as motorists come into the community.
The first set a 30-mile per hour speed limit for all public roads inside the addition. The second resolution established a 40-mph speed limit on a quarter-mile portion of NE 130 Avenue, beginning at the current north city limits of Claflin and extending north to the south line of Pleasant View Cemetery.
After speaking with the project developers and making observations himself, McManaman presented the resolutions, noting that state law sets a default speed limit of 30 mph for residential streets and 55 mph for rural county highways unless an engineer determines otherwise. He recommended the new limits to address safety concerns related to the new housing development.
The Road and Bridge Department estimated the cost for new signs, posts, and labor to be approximately $750. Signs for the new speed limits will be installed at both entrances to the housing addition and on the affected portion of NE 130 Avenue.
McManaman has talked to the township and they have not taken over the maintenance of the roads yet, so they are still considered private property. Should that change, the action will be updated.
The new speed limits will take effect after the resolutions are published in the official county newspaper, the Great Bend Tribune, and the appropriate signage is installed.
The resolution states that the speed limit is being set to ensure the "safe operation of all vehicles and convenience for citizens." It also clarifies that if any part of this resolution conflicts with a previous one, only the conflicting portion of the prior resolution will be voided.