Possible speed limit changes on multiple Cole County roads

Drivers in Cole County may soon see changes to the speed limit on multiple roads.

Cole County Public Works Director Larry Benz told ABC 17 News Cole County Commissioners were presented with multiple traffic control changes at their meeting Tuesday.

One of the biggest changes would be on West Brazito Road, which is about 10 miles southwest of Jefferson City off Highway 54.

The proposed change would increase the speed limit on West Brazito from 45 to 55 miles per hour. But some residents who live on West Brazito told ABC 17 News they thought it would be a dangerous move.

“They speed like maniacs, they drive too fast,” resident Shirley Beck said. “There’s too many residents. It’s just too dangerous to make it higher than 45.”

But another resident wanted the speed limit changed.

“The one on West Brazito road was instigated by a citizen that lives out in the area, requesting that we take a look at it and see if we could raise it,” Cole County Public Works Director Larry Benz said.

After the resident’s request, officials went to West Brazito Road to do a traffic study. Crews measured drivers’ speed and found at least 85 percent of people on the road drove 10 miles over the speed limit. In some stretches of the road, drivers went more than 15 miles over the speed limit, according to Benz.

But Benz said public works has not received any complaints from residents about people speeding on the road.

“If it’s anything, it’s people complaining cause they’ve gotten stopped for speeding in those areas and felt that they weren’t doing, you know, that fast,” Benz said.

Still, Beck said she thought increasing the speed to 55 miles per hour would impose more of a danger.

Commissioners also reviewed increasing the speed limit on Bald Hill and Mount Carmel roads.

But the commission tabled the issue to allow residents time to give input on the changes. It is set to vote on the speed limit changes at its meeting on June 21.