Frankfort Township Set for New 25 MPH Speed Limit

Frankfort Township is about to see a reduction in the speed limit on several streets to 25 miles per hour.

New speed limit signs could be seen sometime in the next six weeks.

Cory Singer (R-District 1) said the drop in the township speed limit came about after a county study of traffic conditions and patterns by IDOT and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“At the request of the township, there were speed studies done on a number of roads,” Singer said. “The studies showed that we should lower the limits on those roads.”

Although township roads are owned and maintained by the township, the county oversees speed limits. The Will County Board approved the change for County Districts 1 and 2 on May 19.

Frankfort Township Highway Commissioner Bill Carlson said that after receiving calls from residents over speed concerns, his department decided to commission the studies for residents' safety. He said that in curb-and-gutter subdivisions the statutory limit is currently 30 mph.

“Those [limits] are set by State guidelines. Is it too fast? Most definitely,” he said.

One of the main areas of concern for residents is a stretch of  80th Avenue between St. Francis Road and North Avenue. Carlson said that he was hopeful to lower the limit eventually. Although he was unsure if the township would be able to because of the lack of driveways.

He said he is working with the county engineer to look into the matter and if approved, would submit the proper paper work to drop the limit to 25 mph as well.

Carlson said the limits cannot be lowered until he has a letter from the Will County Board legally approving the ordinance.

“I'm waiting for the letter for the approval for the rest of Frankfort Square and the rest of Arbury Hills,” he said. “When I get the letters of submittal we'll be able to put those signs up.”

He said that the process for posting the new signs should take about a month from the time the letter is received, which he expects in the next week or two.