Slower Coles Road speed proposed

A speed limit reduction has been proposed for Coles Road in Langley.

A speed limit reduction has been proposed for Coles Road in Langley.

Police Chief Randy Heston recently requested that Island County consider lowering the existing limit between Brooks Hill Road and the entrance of the city’s wastewater treatment plant to 35 or 40 mph.

The proposed section of roadway is about two-thirds of a mile long. The current speed limit for the entire 2.5 mile road, between Brooks Hill Road and Highway 525 is 50 mph.

Although speed limit changes are usually only considered following the submission of a formal petition by the public, the Island County commissioners agreed to waive that requirement since the request came from a neighboring public agency.

With the commissioners’ green light, Island County Public Works will spend the next four to six months conducting a speed study and field review. If the results support a speed limit change, it would have to be approved by the commissioners following a public hearing.

Those who wish to comment on the proposal can call Connie Bowers, assistant county engineer, at 679-7331.