Cookeville Changes Speed Limit For Portion Of Broad Street

The Cookeville Public Works Department changed a portion of West Broad Street’s speed limit to 40 MPH.

The city completed a study reviewing the traffic and accident data for the stretch from West Jackson to West 4th. City Manager James Mills said the speed limit now decreases as you get closer to Cookeville.

“Coming into town, from west to east, you would be at 45 on W. Broad St. until you hit the intersection of W. Jackson St.,” Mills said. “It would reduce to 40. Then, it would stay at 40 until you hit 4th St. and reduce down to 35.”

Mills said the lower speed limit will reduce the severity of accidents. Over the past five years, 20 accidents on the segment of road involved an injury. Traffic signs will be changed in the next week.

“That is a little easier to get people to comply with increasing a speed limit then it is reducing a speed limit,” Mills said.

The speed limit was temporarily lowered from 45 MPH to 30 MPH in the aftermath of the March tornado while cleanup and repairs occurred in the area. Mills said the speed limit remained lowered to complete the study.

“That took several months to complete,” Mills said. “We did several traffic counts and other information we analysed. The study recommended changing the speed limit to somewhere between 35 and 40.”

Mills said law enforcement presence was increased while the speed limit was 30 MPH for safety reasons during the cleanup.