Keewaydin Road residents seek seasonal 20 mph limit; board orders traffic study and counsel review

Residents of Keewaydin Road urged the Wolfeboro Select Board on April 15 to reduce the road’s speed limit seasonally from 30 mph to 20 mph, citing a narrow roadway, limited sight lines and a sharp increase in summer occupancy.

Jaime Biddum and Jerri Davidson described Keewaydin Road as roughly 20 feet wide with telephone poles near the pavement and said year‑round occupancy of about 17 homes rises to roughly 95 residences in summer months. "Thirty miles per hour is unsafe given the road width, pedestrian/bike use, and summer traffic," a resident petition read.

Police Chief Christopher Warn, who said he has patrolled the road, told the board that about 22 mph feels like a safe operating speed there. He and staff recommended a seasonal 20 mph trial but said state statute and engineering guidance require a traffic/engineering study that includes pedestrian and bicycle counts.

The board voted 5–0 to ask town counsel to clarify the study’s qualifications and the data required and to direct staff to gather details (including possible cost implications) so a summer trial or seasonal speed‑limit sign could be installed if warranted.

Next steps: police and staff will collect preliminary speed and count data (the board noted a radar sign could capture historical speed and count data) and consult town counsel and engineers to define the study scope and any statutory constraints; if the study supports a change, a seasonal sign could be installed for the summer.