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Residents press Franklin City Council for stronger enforcement, new signs on Beal Road
Summary
Residents told council on Sept. 17 that speeding and heavy trucks on Beal Road are creating safety hazards; city staff described new striping, warning signs and ongoing enforcement and said they had notified trucking firms and the township about lower speed limits.
Residents of Beal Road pressed the Franklin City Council on Sept. 17 to do more about speeding and large trucks near homes, saying recent incidents have left neighbors afraid to mow near the road. Gene Baker of 4076 Beal Road told council a vehicle recently passed his home “going at least 55 mph” and that a hay truck had also come through, risking people working at the road’s edge.
City Manager Sonny Lewis and Police Chief Russ Whitman described steps the city has taken and plans to continue. Lewis said crews have restriped the roadway, installed a warning sign with a 25 mph plaque by one property, posted a 25 mph sign at the corporation limit, added a 35 mph-ahead warning (Franklin Township approved that sign) and ordered a lighted sign. He said the city has contacted local trucking operators and the township to seek lower speeds on portions of Beal Road and that enforcement and ticketing of speeders is ongoing. “We’ll do whatever we can on Beal Road and anywhere else in the City. We will continue to do what we can — we’ll do our best,” Lewis said.
Baker told council he appreciated the city’s response but said the problem persists, pointing to repeated passersby who do not slow. Resident Melissa Harris thanked Lewis and Whitman for personal outreach and said public awareness appears to be increasing after recent enforcement: she reported hearing attendees at a community event advise one another not to speed on Beal Road.
Council members supported continued enforcement and coordination with the township. Council member Denny Centers and others noted that some speeding is inevitable but said efforts so far have slowed traffic. Council member Michael Aldridge thanked school officials for assistance with outreach.
What’s next: staff said they will continue enforcement, pursue signage and outreach to truck operators and the township, and monitor whether additional physical changes to the roadway are feasible. There was no formal vote on Beal Road measures at the meeting.
