Center Drive approved for speed humps
July 11, 2019
Center Drive is about to get bumpier.
Monday evening at a Zanesville City Council meeting, council approved the purchase of 11 speed humps. Those humps are intended for installation along Center Drive.
For a residential street, Zanesville City Engineer Chip Saunders said the road experiences a significant amount of traffic.
“The issue with Center Drive, you have a combination of traffic that is going through there,” Saunders said. “You have about 2,700 to 3,000 cars a day going through there, and it’s a residential street. It’s not meant for that kind of traffic.”
For many years, Center Drive has been a cause of concern for the City — even prior to Saunders’ employment with the City, which began 12 years ago, Center Drive was an ongoing issue.
“So you have a combination of excessive traffic, with that traffic there’s also an issue of speed,” he said. “We had some monitors out there and we found out there was a speed problem, and then … the condition of the road. We need to discourage traffic from using that road because the road is not built to handle that kind of traffic.”
The installation of the speed humps, which are typically placed 300 to 500 feet apart, is in an effort to both decrease speeds through the designated 25 mph zone, as well as deter through traffic from using that route.
“We paved that road four years ago, and it is falling apart. We should get a lot more time out of that road than four years,” Saunders said. “We’ve got crack-seal all over it, the center joint is falling apart. The more traffic we put on it, eventually, it’ll get bad enough that we will have to rebuild it or close it or something.”
With Center Drive being a public road, Saunders said it’s a difficult issue to fix as drivers are permitted to use the route, although it’s causing significant damage to the roadway.
In accordance to City policy, three separate quotes will need to be obtained before materials can be purchased. Once the purchase is complete, Saunders said the installation of the speed humps should be a quick process completed by the City’s Street Division.
C Brennan • Jul 16, 2019 at 3:25 pm
This proposal belongs in ‘The Onion’. I have never seen congestion along Center Dr. The only time it’s come close is when residents hold parties in which many vehicles can be parked alongside the road. When was this vehicle count taken? Then what would be the daily count on Brandywine, Country Club Dr, Bell St, and Blue Ave?!? If residents are so concerned about their precious seclusion, then MOVE. All though I’m not a fan, those speed bumps could be used for within the school zones on Blue, not the Zanesville wealthy. You can bet your arse, when I go over one in Center Dr, I’ll hold my horn EVERY time!
Sue norrus • Jul 13, 2019 at 9:46 am
I feel my street is just as important as your street. For traffic. I need speed bump. People who are late for church or hurry to get home from church. Speed. And then they use my street to cut over. To luck ave. I have watch backing out of my drive way. So take some of that dam money and put a speed bump on Shelby st
Sue • Jul 12, 2019 at 9:03 pm
I’m with all u guy’s the rich always get there way. And if we can’t drive though there than they should pay for everything that needs done not tax payers. It bug’s the shit out of me for them doing this. Hell fix Wanve Ave 1st hell I live on a side street off Pine street n about 2000 cars go up it ever day u want to put speed bumps in there too. But I will still go thru there won’t bug me I like speed bumps
Ellen • Jul 12, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Center Dr is a public street and if they want to make it private then we the public should not have to pay for the paving and for the up keep. Put gates up on each end and make it private for only the people who live there. They should have to pay for all repairs. I have used the road quite often and have never seen speeders, with the stop signs and curves it would be kind of dangerous to drive very fast. Always enjoyed driving through there very beautiful and serene and lovely old homes, like the public streets where I use to live Lenox Ave and Fairmont Ave. and down McIntire Terrace with the beautiful Brick Street. What a shame to be all upset over some traffic going through when there are so many more important problems in our city that you should really be putting the worry and using the money
Jim Porter • Jul 12, 2019 at 3:22 pm
BEEP AT EACH HUMP! Public roads are for everyone to use and enjoy. This is not about pedestrian safety at all, it’s about the rich neighborhood trying to keep “those people” out and keeping their property values up by having a quite neighborhood. Everyone should beep their car horn when they go over each new speed hump, you know… for pedestrian safety. Another example of how out of touch Zanesville City Council is with the real needs of this community. REMEMBER, BEEP AT EACH HUMP!
I’m way more likely to use Center Dr. after reading this. Thanks for reminding me of this great shortcut Zanesville City Council. Lets all avoid the 35 mph “bypass road” and use center Dr instead!
Roven A King • Jul 12, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Taylor street is used just as much and in worse condition, are we putting speed bumps there too, or Blue Ave. This is sooth rich people, I will continue to use it
Robert E Neel • Jul 12, 2019 at 1:16 pm
I have been in Zanesville area over 45 years and if they streets are falling apart in 4 years maybe you got took on the paving contractor or the base isn’t correct or suitable for paving. Put it back to gravel and that would fix all your troubles.
Debbie • Jul 12, 2019 at 8:53 am
Laura, you’re right, the working people in zanesville pay taxes for the use of the streets in zanesville an the upper class people aren’t any better than the rest of us. The street I live on hasn’t been redone since I’ve been here, 14 years, and all they do is half patch it. This town is falling apart and I’ve been here all my life 63 years. I use to love living here. To many drugs and they are worried about their road, well take some of these drug dealers in your neighborhood then complain!!
Laura • Jul 11, 2019 at 8:06 pm
This was tried years ago, come the first snow fall the speed bumps were gone when the plow came through. You have much worse roads in Zanesville that should be taken care of first. Since the time that I lived on East Drive the residents have been trying to make through traffic on this public road illegal. Just because it’s an “upper class” neighborhood does not mean that they should have the ability to dictate who uses the road.
Joanna • Jul 11, 2019 at 6:39 pm
From reading this your saying there is more traffic on center drive in one day then on Spangler Dr I’m calling bs on this it’s a problem because it’s the rich neighborhood and they are trying to get it so no one but them can go thru
Mark Berkfield • Jul 11, 2019 at 6:10 pm
I can remember delivering the Columbus Dispatch thru that whole area as a kid.
It was a very nice area where upper class people of Zville lived at that time. Yes back in the 60’s.
Seldom ever saw a car back then.