Speed limits could be reduced on Cape Girardeau County roads

Cape Girardeau County's District 2 Commissioner, Paul Koeper, thinks the 60 mph speed limit allowed now on county roads is "kind of absurd." But that limit may change before long, at least on roads in the Cape Special Road District, which has jurisdiction over county roads in the southeastern part of the county and 10 miles of other roads within Cape Girardeau city limits.

Koeper shared a recommendation Monday with other county commissioners from the road district's commission that asked that the roads be the subject of public hearings that could lead to an ordinance establishing an enforceable speed limit.

The commission approved a motion to hold the public hearings.

Up to 45 whole roads or portions of roads in the district could see speed limits of 25 and 35 mph enforced if such an ordinance is created and adopted by approval of county commissioners. Koeper and others say a need for increased safety on the county's roads is behind the proposed slowdown of traffic.

"The whole thing is about safety," Koeper said. "It has to do with us trying to make areas of the county as safe as we can for the people who live on those roads."

While Koeper admits not all drivers of county roads actually drive as fast as the 60 mph limit allows, many still drive too fast on roads with routes that were developed in years past by farmers and wound around the terrain.

Lt. Chris Hull, commander of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department's patrol and traffic division, said lower speed limits are needed in the district and that he hopes the passage of an ordinance could lead to lower limits being placed and enforced throughout the rest of the county.

All county roads in Missouri have a default speed limit of 60 mph, unless a commission approves a reduction.

"We get numerous complaint calls about speeding from people who live on the roads, especially in areas to the south and southeast of Cape," Hull said.

That is a concern for the department, he said, especially because some roads are gravel.

The last time the commission passed an ordinance to amend speed limits on roads under county jurisdiction was 2010, when the limits were reduced to 35 mph on County Road 205 and 25 mph on Singing Hills Drive. Koeper said he knows for sure that new limits on County Road 205 have slowed drivers down because accidents have been less frequent there since the ordinance went into effect. County Road 205 turns into Bloomfield Road when it crosses into the city limits.

Hull said he doesn't anticipate his patrol deputies issuing a much higher number of tickets for speeding if new limits are put into place, but that the change could mean the department would have to step up its efforts to deter speeders. What would be more likely, he said, is that drivers actually would slow down just because signs were posted. A good thing, he said, is that the hands of law enforcement would no longer be tied to deal with people who drive dangerously fast on county roads.

Koeper agreed, and said intentions behind trying to enforce lower speed limits would not be to raise funds for the county.

Three public hearings are required to be held by the county before an ordinance can go before commissioners. Hearing dates and locations have not yet been set.

One other county road not included in the district is also being considered for a speed limit reduction. A portion of County Road 601, a portion of which falls under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Department of Transportation, may have its speed limit reduced from 60 to 40 mph. Koeper said the portion under MoDOT jurisdiction already has a 40 mph limit and the rest of the road should as well to ensure safety of drivers, especially with more traffic on the road due to increased industry. Heartland Materials and Hoffmeister Sawmill are on County Road 601, as is Saxony Lutheran High School. Koeper said he has talked with representatives from the three entities and that all are in favor of a reduced speed limit.

eragan@semissourian.com

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