Town works to answer calls for lower Lake Dr. speed limit

The Port Washington Town Board on Monday took the next step toward lowering the speed limit on Lake Drive.

The board agreed to have signs made up and authorized the town attorney to draft an ordinance reducing the speed limit on Lake Drive from Highway LL east to the lake.

The board’s action came after town resident Heidi Janous told officials last year that residents walking along the country road sometimes need to dodge traffic and “jump in the ditch.” 

“It is really a very busy road. We have no sidewalks, but we have a lot of people who walk, run, bike, walk their dogs and walk with their children,” Janous, of 4446 Weilers Way, said in March.

“It’s a safety concern. It’s just an accident waiting to happen.”

Town Chairman Mike Didier said at the time that after hearing residents’ complaints he drove down the dead-end road and the 55 mph speed limit is “pretty fast.”

“It feels like you’re flying,” he said.

The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a speed study on Lake Drive at the board’s behest, and Ozaukee County Public Works Director Jon Edgren reviewed the study before recommending that the town reduce the speed limit from its current 55 mph to 45 mph.

Edgren noted that the town could push for a 35 or 40 mph speed limit since the road leads to a residential area, but would need authority from the Department of Transportation to do that.

Board members noted that even though they endorsed the move to reduce the speed limit, this isn’t the final action needed.

Until the ordinance is approved and the signs erected, the speed limit on Lake Drive remains 55 mph.

Didier suggested the board look at setting the speed limit for Dixie Court to be 45 mph at the same time it changes the Lake Drive limit. Since Dixie Court is a platted subdivision road, he said, a speed study isn’t required for the lower limit.