CAROLINA BEACH — The speed limits in Carolina Beach could soon be changing, thanks to golf carts on the island. Town Manager Michael Cramer spoke Tuesday evening regarding the proposed changes of speed limits on Lake Park Boulevard, and why changes were proposed.
According to Cramer, the change for the speed limit on Lake Park stemmed from a complaint that golf cart owners living in a neighborhood off the road were unable to use their carts because the speed limit on the road is 45 m.p.h. Carts are only allowed to operate on roads with posted speed limits of 35 m.p.h or less.
“Several months ago, when council approved changes to the golf cart ordinance and the rules and regulations, one of the things we recognized … is a 45 m.p.h. speed limit and that the people that are in the Port Side Neighborhood cannot legally use a golf cart to get out onto Lake Park and to go down to another section that is legal for them to be in without illegally driving on Lake Park,” Cramer said.
NCDOT told the town that drivers are unlikely to adhere to the 35 m.p.h. speed limit and that NCDOT does not support the changing of the speed limit – however, if the town were to submit a resolution to change the speed limit, NCDOT would allow it.
Cramer said it makes sense for the council to go ahead with a resolution to send to NCDOT to change the speed limit on Lake Park at the Food Lion to Spartanburg Road.
The town also asked NCDOT to consider changing the speed limit on Dow Road to 35 m.p.h. for the same reasons. NCDOT did not support this change and would not allow the change, but that does not mean the speed limit on Dow Road will remain the same.
NCDOT suggested changing the speed limit on Dow Road to 45 m.p.h. but, at this time, there are no changes until both Kure Beach and Carolina Beach weigh in on the proposed changes.
“We had a town resident who sent in a request to NCDOT to study the speed limit on all of Dow Road. The reviewed the speed limit for all of Dow Road and came back and suggested that the speed limit could be reduced from 55 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. … after a little bit of discussion on why the towns were not consulted on this issue they’ve decided to ask for a resolution of support before they do anything,” Cramer said.
Mayor Dan Wilcox said, though he is not in favor of reducing the speed limit on Dow Road, he is supportive of the change on Lake Park Boulevard.
“When we’re not busy I don’t think its going to hurt us at all. Its just going to slow that traffic down a little earlier. When we are busy traffic is already backed up bumper-to-bumper so its already going slower than 35 … I don’t see the downside,” Wilcox said.
The Town Council will have to send a resolution to NCDOT before the speed limit changes will take place.
Michael Praats can be reached at Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
