Committee approves posting 25 mph on Shearwater Drive after DPW speed study

The Portsmouth Parking, Traffic & Safety Committee approved posting a 25 mph speed limit on Shearwater Drive after hearing results of a DPW speed study.

DPW engineer Eric said the street — formerly called Circuit Road before a renaming and changes in roadway configuration — had been left out of the ordinance. "We saw average speeds at 20 miles an hour, the 85th percentile speed of 25," Eric said, and recommended posting 25 mph because state law does not allow a 15 mph neighborhood posting except in limited school-zone circumstances.

The change reflects field conditions and legal limits, Eric said, noting that drivers were already generally traveling near the 20 mph target speed for neighborhood slow-street treatments and that the posted 25 mph sign would make the limit clear to motorists.

A committee member moved to approve posting 25 mph; the motion passed on a voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes.

DPW noted alternatives included leaving the street with no posted limit (relying on default statutes) or evaluating traffic calming measures later if conditions warrant. Chair Annie Hopkins said staff should proceed with implementing the sign change and notify affected residents.