Traffic Calming Devices Work In New City Neighborhood

The Clarkstown Highway Department’s speed cushion test along Lady Godiva Way and King Arthur Court proved effective.  Highway superintendent Wayne Ballard told the town board Tuesday night that the speed cushions slowed traffic in the Camelot residential neighborhood and he recommends replacing the temporary devices with permanent installations.

Ballard said the nine speed cushions were placed in September 2010 to reduce speeding on the long straight residential roads.  The streets had become popular with drivers seeking a shortcut between Route 304 at Squadron Boulevard and East Cavalry Drive and Congers Road near Clarkstown North High School.

“It had become a cut through for Clarkstown North,” he said.  

Ballard said the permanent traffic control devices would be made from asphalt and installed sometime between mid and late May.  Ballard hopes the will be able to install the speed bumps but it will depend on the workload at that time.

The temporary speed cushions are thick, hard rubber mats bolted to the pavement, which have been installed in the spring and removed before the winter months to avoid damage to town snowplows.  Before the speed cushions were installed, specific criteria had to be met.  The police department conducted traffic counts, monitored the speed of vehicles and tracked peak traffic flow.