55 MPH speed limit discussed for 231 inside city limits

Lowering the speed limit on U.S. 231 North to 55 mph inside the city limits will be considered next Thursday by the Shelbyville City Council.

Mayor Wallace Cartwright said Tuesday he would like to see the speed lowered due to the location of Heritage Medical Center and other establishments on the state highway.

The stretch of highway that would be impacted extends approximately 2.5 miles north of Shelbyville from McDale Lane. The speed limit at Walmart is set at 45 mph, before increasing to 55, then 65 mph shortly thereafter.

A school zone is also located near Victory Baptist Academy.

Cartwright said that he recently consulted with county mayor Eugene Ray and a member of the Tennessee Department of Transportation about the speed limit, which is 65 mph through Deason and into Shelbyville.

This past January, the county commission deadlocked at 9-9 on asking for a speed limit change to 55 mph on Highway 231 from Deason to the city limits. County Mayor Eugene Ray broke the tie in favor of asking for the change, but there was still no required two-thirds majority.

One request was made for a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 231 and State Route 82 (Webb Road) south of Deason by commissioner Bobby Fox to slow traffic, but that idea never moved forward.

Cartwright also said that since the city limits extend along the right of way of the state highway some 400 feet north of Frank Martin Road, then the council can lower the speed limit.

Currently, the Shelbyville city limits sign on U.S. 231 is located near McDale Lane.

The city is not responsible for the federal highway, but they can set the speed limit, Cartwright explained to the council.

The council will hold its monthly meeting next Thursday at 6 p.m. in the courtroom at the Shelbyville Police Department.