Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood Township — It may soon become harder to pass on Lake Road after the Ironwood Township Board of Trustees decided Monday to send a letter to the Gogebic County Road Commission seeking to prohibit passing south of Sunset Road.
The board’s letter seeks to remove the passing zones between Margaret Street and Sunset Road and requests a traffic study to determine whether the speed limit can be reduced as well.
The board based its decision on the fact the section of road is both fairly heavily populated and highly traveled by everything from pedestrians to log trucks, a combination that could lead to traffic accidents.
“I think Sunset Road all the way to the college should be double-lined,” trustee Bernie Brunello said.
“It’s so congested here, there’s no reason for anybody to be passing here,” treasurer Maria Graser said, regarding the section between Jackson and Sunset roads. She added that pedestrians and school bus stops are also potential sources of accidents along that section of road.
Brandon Tauer, who lives on Lake Road, approached the board about the proposed changes. He said he was prompted to explore the options after a recent accident he was in near his house involving a car trying to pass another vehicle.
Tauer said Monday his research indicates the township, road commission and Michigan State Police all must agree to any changes to the speed limit. One of the factors when determining the proper speed limit, according to his research, is “vehicular access points” — or intersections, trail crossings and driveways along a section of road.
Based on a preliminary count of these points on the section of Lake Road between the city of Ironwood and Sunset Road, Tauer said the speed limit on Lake Road probably meets state guidelines. However, he encouraged the board to pursue a traffic study for informational purposes and to shed light on the potential for eliminating the passing zone.
Further, he argued the township board has to sign off on any increase to the speed limit, so there was little chance conducting a traffic study could backfire.
Even if the speed limit can’t be changed, Tauer said the elimination of passing zones would increase the safety of those traveling on Lake Road as the zones are relatively short and — with many drivers already exceeding the posted speed limits — those trying to pass often have to go really fast to get around the cars ahead of them.
Tauer recognized drivers and residents may have conflicting viewpoints on the need for reduced speed limits and no passing areas.
“If you live on a road with drivers that speed by your house, you want something done about it; if you’re one of the people using that road, you don’t want to be bothered and you want to get to where you’re going. I get it,” he told the board.
In other action, the board:
—Passed several amendments to the current fiscal year’s budget.
—Hired Jeff Anderson as an on-call, part-time maintenance employee.
—Scheduled a budget workshop for 4:30 p.m., Oct. 15.
