Speed humps to replace chicane barriers on Mabel, Elizabeth in Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo officials announced Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 that chicane speed barriers in Kalamazoo's Northside neighborhood would be replaced with speed humps.
The chicane barriers cost the city $30,000 to implement, Kalamazoo Public Services Director James Baker said at the time of their Thursday, July 30 installation. He said a single speed bump would cost the city $75,000 to install.
- Installation: Kalamazoo erects barriers in the road of Northside neighborhood to reduce speeding
Baker said the city started focusing on traffic calming projects about three years ago, after residents said speeding was a problem on residential streets.
Although Baker said studies show chicanes lower traffic speeds and reduce traffic crashes by about 29%, residents in August expressed mixed feelings about their effectiveness.
Jacqueline Weekley, a 40-year resident of William Street, said the chicane "has presented an obstacle course for the persons speeding down the street."
- Dissatisfaction: Kalamazoo residents share mixed feeling on chicane speed barriers
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Kalamazoo residents said they would prefer speed humps to chicane barriers. Baker said the city would begin to consider this method and others to prevent speeding in the Northside neighborhood.
On its Facebook page, the city posted photos of construction workers creating the speed humps. The post said they would be installed on Mabel Street and Elizabeth Street.
