"We didn't do it."

That's the message Lawrence County Commissioners have been repeating a lot lately about a speed limit reduction on a three-mile stretch of State Route 93 in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bend Hill.

The speed limit was reduced from 55 miles an hour to 45 approximately six weeks ago. Since then, residents have been calling commissioners to ask why, and to complain that they don't like it.

"I have no idea why they did it. We had nothing to do with it," Commissioner Paul Herrell said. "I keep getting phone calls from people asking me why we changed it."

Actually, the Ohio Department of Transportation changed the speed limit, according to Richard Chaffin, a traffic safety analyst with ODOT District 9.

"We got some complaints about speed in that area," Chaffin said. "We did a study, and at the end the study suggests a warranted speed. We then have to drop the speed limit to that speed."

Chaffin said the pavement width, number of accidents, road characteristics and congestion are all studied. Transportation officials then conduct a physical inspection of the roadway, noting the speed of cars that use it and the physical condition of the road. The results are then forwarded to the ODOT Director for his approval. Local law enforcement must give their approval as well, and Chaffin said they did.

Chaffin said there were 60 accidents on that road in the last three years, 25 of those accidents resulted in 48 injuries. There were no fatalities.

"This is not something ODOT just goes out and does," Chaffin said. "It is a pretty extensive study and approval process. We don't just go and look for places." Teresa Moore/The Ironton Tribune