State transit agency Caltrans will lower speed limits on parts of Highway 9 following a recent engineering and traffic survey.
The two-lane highway stretches into the Santa Cruz Mountains through population centers including Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek. The change follows the recent study of a nearly 12-mile stretch of Highway 9, which evaluated existing speed limits, collision history, roadway conditions, pedestrians and bicycles, curves, driveways, parking and crossings.
From just south of San Lorenzo Avenue in Felton to just south of Hillside Avenue in Ben Lomond, the speed limit will be reduced from 35 mph to 30. The section in Ben Lomond will be reduced from 30 mph to 25. A nearly mile-long section north of Brookdale will be reduced from 35 mph to 30.
The California Highway Patrol and Santa Cruz County both supported the change, according to Thursday’s Caltrans news release.
“Excessive speed is one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatal crashes. Let’s all do our part to keep our roads safe,” Acting CHP Santa Cruz Area Office Commander Lt. Grant Boles said in the release.
Enforcement of the speed limits will begin once all the existing signage is updated, which is expected to wrap up within the next 30 days.
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