Now that paving on the southern portion of 57th Avenue has been completed, and residents resume use of the popular roadway, Town of Olds operational services is working together with Municipal Enforcement to alert speeders of the roadway's legal limit.
Municipal Enforcement staff will soon be installing speed boards along the new stretch of road as well to alert drivers of their actual speeds compared to the posted speed limit (50 km/h) of the roadway, said Larry Wright, director of operations for the Town of Olds.
“It's just to get everyone's attention. We need to retrain everyone to slow down, it's a nice road now.”
Wright said people seem to have difficulty transitioning from 100 km/h on paved county roads to 50 km/h.
“Sometimes they don't slow down 'til they get pretty close to the four-way stop,” said Wright of the intersection of 57 Avenue and 54 Street.
“We've got to start now, and get them slowed down before winter.”
Wright said the most dangerous time is the first snowfall, when ice can often be present.
“We've got to get people some consciousness on what the actual speeds are supposed to be. Education is really key.”
Despite the completion of paving, landscaping, topsoil, and cleanup in the area, line markings, pedestrian crossing signs, and other related details need to be taken care of still, said Wright.
