Halifax reducing speed limit to 40 km/h in Fairview area

The speed limit in the Fairview area of Halifax has been lowered to 40 km/h.

The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is reducing the speed limit in the Fairview area from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

Crews will start work in the area on the week of April 14, according to a news release from the municipality. The impacted region is defined by the following streets:

• Main Avenue
• Dutch Village Road
• Highway 102
• Dunbrack Street

“The number one complaint that councillors get is about speeding and traffic safety concerns. That’s the number one thing we hear about. So, I certainly heard from a lot of residents that they wanted to see this,” said Kathryn Morse, District 10 councillor.

The municipality says studies show reducing speed limits from 50 km/h to 40 km/h increases the pedestrian survival rate by 40 per cent.

“We don’t have enough sidewalks in Fairview and it’s going to take a long time to build them,” said Morse.

“So, when you don’t have sidewalks and you can reduce the speeds, it does add an improvement to the area and make things a little bit safer.”

A news release from HRM says the province allows municipalities to request posted speed limits below 50 km/h if accompanied by necessary documentation including current operating speeds and roadway characteristics.

“The speed limit reduction in these areas is being implemented following provincial approval based on available data and an assessment of roadway characteristics that meet their qualifications,” reads the release.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Vanessa Wright.

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