The Lincoln Township Board of Trustees is seeking some speed studies on three stretches of road as it hopes to get drivers to slow down.

Last year, the township board asked for speed studies on four roads, including Ridge, Glenlord, and Washington. At its regular meeting Tuesday, the board was told the Berrien County Road Department has sent three of those requests back for reapproval with some language changes.

Trustee Marc Florian warned colleagues to be careful what they wish for because a speed study could result in higher speed limits just as easily as lower limits. However, Berrien County Commissioner Bob Harrison, who lives on Ridge Road, said people in his neighborhood are willing to take that chance. He tells us the speed limit in that area is entirely unacceptable.

“There’s no sidewalk, there’s no walking path, so if you walk down the road, you walk in the road,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the speed limit on his stretch of Ridge used to be 25, but was changed to 40 some years ago. He believes another look needs to be taken at that, and many other roads.

“The concern is that we need to reduce the speed on it, especially not just Ridge, but several of the other roads, not just in Lincoln Township but throughout the county.”

Trustees then approved the request for all three speed studies. They are for Glenlord from Red Arrow Highway to Lake Forest, Washington from Glenlord to John Beers, and Ridge Road from Glenlord to Marquette Woods Road.

Harrison told us a new bill is coming together in Lansing that would give townships more control over the setting of speed limits, rather than continuing the rigid system now managed by Michigan State Police. He supports the idea.