Delmont will lower Athena Drive speed limit to 25 mph

Delmont will officially lower the speed limit on Athena Drive to 25 mph.

Council voted 6-1 at its November meeting to reduce the top speed on the stretch of Athena between Freeport Street and the borough line just north of Park Drive.

Council President Andy Shissler voted no.

Athena is also State Road 1034 and a required PennDOT traffic study was among the final steps to address resident complaints about speeding, according to council members.

Councilman Stan Cheyne said the small amount of feedback he received from residents was in support of keeping Athena’s current 35 mph speed limit.

“The only other feedback was people at the storm water committee meeting wanting to know why we were doing it for Athena and not for Manor Road,” Cheyne said.

The borough attempted last year to lower the speed limit on Manor Road, again in response to resident complaints about speeding.

However, PennDOT’s study in that case indicated the speed limit should remain at 35 mph. Part of the rationale was that it is a “connector road,” linking routes 66 and 22.

Athena’s western terminus is in the borough, but it becomes a 40 mph road as it passes through Salem before connecting with Route 819 near Slickville.

The borough is responsible for purchasing new speed-limit signs. It must also install a sign alerting drivers of the upcoming lowered speed limit.

The change will make 25 mph the speed on nearly all roads in Delmont, outside of Route 66 and Manor Road.