Kearns homeowners voice concerns about speeding in neighborhoods, city to add new safety improvements
Aug 2, 2024, 7:03 PM | Updated: 7:09 pm
KEARNS — The high-speed crash in Kearns on Thursday morning did not surprise resident Denise Neal.
“For as long as I’ve lived here, there have been people speeding down the road,” Neal said.
An alleged drunk driver was seen on surveillance video speeding and then crashing their car into others down 4820 West. Neal said several other neighbors have dealt with property damage in the past from speeding drivers.
Neal and some other neighbors who live near 4820 West are hoping for speed bumps or stop signs on the lengthy straightaway that does not have many ways to slow drivers down.
The speed limit on her street is 25mph.
“The amount of people that speed down the street going like in excess of 60, 70 miles an hour, it’s got to stop because school starting back up,” Neal said.
The street sign for 4820 W. 5055 South, where a rollover crash happened on Aug 1, 2024. (KSL TV)
Neal said she has contacted Kearns Mayor Kelly Bush in the past about these concerns. KSL TV contacted Bush, who acknowledged complaints about speeding in that area.
Bush said the city had added funding approved in this year’s budget to make some safety improvements to 4820 West and other streets in Kearns.
“We’re doing speed studies on all of these neighborhoods to find traffic calming alternatives, rather, that if speed bumps, feedback signs, striping … to try to calm some of the some of these problems,” Bush said.
Seven other neighborhoods are also expected to get different safety improvements.
The plan is for 4820 West to get a new four-way stop at 5015 South, along with new stripping and feedback signs, which allow drivers to see if they’re following the speed limit.
Bush said the project is currently in design, and the city has until July 2025 to complete it since it was approved with this year’s funding. However, Bush said she’s hoping to complete the project by the start of the school year.
“What I really would ask is that these drivers pay attention. We’ve got laws out there. We’ve got speed limits, and they need to slow down,” she said.
Bush said residents who have concerns should contact her or the city directly instead of private Facebook pages.
“Anybody is always welcome to reach out to me and just go through the process. We’re always wanting to make sure that our communities are safe,” she said.
