Some neighbors along Columbus Drive have expressed concern about traffic speeds on that particular street. Columbus Drive is apparently viewed by some as a sort of “secret shortcut” (to avoid the 4-way stop at Branch Street and Maywood) — and they often exceed the residential street speed limit since there is no real “cross street traffic” on Columbus.
As we see it, there are two areas of potential danger on that street:
(1) there is a fairly steep hill at the midpoint of Columbus, and many children gather to play in the cul-de-sac (at Pinta Court) at the top of that hill. We often observe traffic clearly exceeding the 25 mph residential speed limit (to get up and over the steep hill), and with children often crossing the street, they are not easily seen since the crest of the hill is somewhat “blind” to drivers coming from either direction.
(2) the entrance to Parisi Park is near a right-angle curve in the road, where Columbus Drive turns into Mayflower. Again, with many neighborhood families and children going to/from Parisi Park, the park entrance is somewhat “blind” to drivers rounding the corner from Columbus.
As a result of these 2 dangerous spots, we wonder if speed bumps or speed ramps (photo above) might be a good “traffic calming” solution along Columbus Drive — both near the sharp Mayflower-Columbus curve, and also on either side of the steep Columbus Drive hill?
If you are in favor of such an action, Andy Lewis is our District 6 Alder, and his email addeess is district6@ci.middleton.wi.us
