Residents ask for speed limits to be lowered

Town of Belgium residents are calling for the speed limits to be lowered on roads near Lake Michigan.

Paul Carufel at 5247 Upper Lakeview Ridge Rd. said he has talked to several neighbors who agree that his road and Lower Lakeview Ridge Road should be at 25 mph. The speed limit is 55 mph.

“There are no sidewalks. There are pedestrians in the right of way. There’s limited visibility,” he said.

Sandy Beach Road, he said, should be at 35 mph east of Sunny Ridge Road since it is zoned residential, he said.

Other residents called for lowering speed limit on other nearby roads.

Town Chairman Tom Winker said he will have the Ozaukee County Highway Department install a sensor that detects the average speed on the road and determine what the what the speed limits should be.

Supr. Bill Janeshek said “studies show people drive as fast as they’re comfortable driving.”

Towns may drop speed limits by no more than 10 mph without Department of Transportation approval, Winker said.

“I don’t think it makes sense just to drop it 10 mph. That would be a foolish thing,” he said.

“It’s not going to be an easy fix but it’s something we’re working on and trying to get some answers. As I always say, in government it just takes a little bit longer to get things done.”