Does Avondale Need More Speed Calming?

The Avondale Estates City Commission is looking for ways to reduce speeding on Kensington Road.

Residents submitted a petition asking the city to investigate speed calming devices. They complain that drivers use Kensington as a cut-through from Covington Highway.

Some of the options listed on the city website include:

• Speed humps.

• Speed tables.

• Chicanes, also known as curb extensions.

• Redesigning the Kensington Road/Covington Highway intersection, making Kensington two instead of three lanes.

• Making Kensington one way toward Covington.

• Closing the intersection.

At a March 20 meeting, Mayor Ed Rieker said changing the intersection might remove the need for speed calming devices.

"If we knock out the perception that's a good place to go, maybe we'll resolve the problem," he said.

Lindsay Forlines said a big-picture fix is needed. "Speed humps are not enough," she said.

Resident Ted Penrod told the commission he hated speed humps. "Let's use the speed humps as an absolute last resort," he said.

Resident Steve Bosch said many of the speeders are local residents, not people using Kensington as a cut-through.

"Whether you close that street or not, I recommend speed tables all the way up and down because eliminating the cut-through traffic doesn't eliminate the speeding problem," he said.

The city has no timetable on a decision will be made.