It’s one of the busiest roads in Bridgeport and on Monday, Bridgeport City Council will be asked to consider a resolution to increase the speed limit on it.

 

Council will be asked to authorize City Manager Randy Wetmore to up the speed limit on what is called by man “Mall Road.” It’s the road at the base of the entrance to the mall to the intersection of what is known as the “Meadowbrook Mall Loop” that goes to the intersection of Dick’s Sporting Goods.

 

The decision will be made at Council’s final meeting of February. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. work session.

 

The resolution would change the speed limit from 25 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour. The decision was made after careful study by the Bridgeport Police Department and with help from the City Engineer’s office, said Deputy Chief Mark Rogers.

 

“We did a speed study as part of a traffic study for a week-long period … You’re looking at roughly 60,000 cars going through there per week,” said Rogers. “The vast majority of them were traveling above 25 miles per hour.”

 

The decision after the study came to leave it the same or going to 35, which is the recommendation. Rogers said after all concerns and questions were discussed between police and city engineer staff, the 35 mile per hour choice was deemed the better option.

 

“The big question, with most people already doing 35, was accidents. What we found was other than Christmas when there’s so much traffic you don’t have the opportunity to go 35 and issues from inclement weather, there weren’t many accidents,” said Rogers. “Most of the accidents were at the light at the bottom of the road leading to the mall and most of the accidents were fender benders.”

 

Rogers said doing enforcement in the area is also problematic. However, efforts will be done to check how vehicles are driving if the resolution passes. Rogers also said if the resolution passes a new speed study will be done to make sure people don’t go faster than the new posted speed limit.

 

Speed bumps were also considered, but determined to not be feasible for the area.

 

There are only a few other items involving official business. Council will be asked to act and approve a contract with Casto Technical Services of Charleston in the amount of $10,696.04 for upgrades to the HVAC system in City Hall. That will lead to another item. Finance Director Monica Musgrave said Budget Revision #6 on the agenda will address the funding of that project.

 

The other item involves approving a contract with POW Glass of Mannington for the purchase and installation of security windows in the lobby of City Hall in the amount of $12,822. The approval also asks for a 10 percent contingency at $1,282.20

 

Prior to official business, there should be a packed house on hand. And not because of the speed limit issue.

 

Council will once again be presenting proclamations to local sports teams. This time, it will be the Bridget Middle School football, cheerleading and boys’ cross country teams for winning Harrison County or Conference Championships.

 

“We all enjoy doing this,” said Mayor Andy Lang. “Lately, we’ve gone to some of the other Council members and asked them if they want to read the proclamation because a lot of them have kids that are involved in those different sporting groups. It’s kind of nice to have someone’s dad or someone’s coach to do it. All I need to do is sign the proclamation as the mayor at the bottom.”

 

Lang said the proclamations to sports teams, academic teams and other community youth champions is something that is fun and important.

 

“The whole idea is to let the kids understand that we as the city appreciate them and their school and the different events they’re involved with as much as we hope they appreciate us and the city,” said Lang.

 

The meeting is open to the public.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Bridgeport Deputy Police Chief Mark Rogers, while Bridgeport Middle School celebrates their Middle School title after toppling Buckhannon in a photo by Ben Queen Photography.