◆ Drivers ignoring stop signs and using excessive speed becoming a problem.
Vehicle speed and disregard for cross walks and stop signs has become an increasing problem on Cokeville’s main street. According to Mayor Rose Arndt, the town is looking to get the problem under control.
“There has been a problem with vehicles speeding down Main Street and also down many of the town’s side streets,” Mayor Arndt said. “There have been pets hit and killed and children almost hit because of speeding vehicles.”
“Main Street’s speed limit is 30 miles per hour and most of the town’s side streets have a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour,” Arndt continued. “That includes Collett Avenue north of the three-way stop at the intersection of Main Street, and that section of road south of the three-way stop until you pass Fred Robert’s House where the 35 mile per hour speed limit sign is posted.”
According to Arndt, the Town of Cokeville put up temporary stop signs at the intersection of Third South and Post Street “at the request of residents living in that area.”
“Its since been reported that after the temporary stop signs were removed the speeding problem returned and now it’s even worse,” Arndt said. “If drivers continue to speed down Post Street permanent stop signs may end up being installed at that intersection.”
According to Arndt, there is also an issue with vehicles speeding out of the Cokeville High School Parking Lot’s south exit onto Pine Street “with exiting drivers not even slowing down to see if there’s oncoming traffic.”
“The right-of-way belongs to those driving or walking past the high school on Pine Street, not those exiting the parking lot,” Arndt said. “If this problem continues to exist it has been suggested by members of the town council and the town’s police department to install a permanent stop sign at that parking lot exit and to also have one of our police officers patrol that area during lunch and after school.”
According to Mayor Arndt, the Town of Cokeville is hopeful that area residents will abide by traffic laws and help the town remain a safe community.
“We hope that drivers will take the initiative to voluntarily slow down while driving down Main Street and the town’s side streets,” she said. “Cokeville has the reputation of being a safe community, so we need to be vigilant while driving anywhere in town.”
