TRENTON – The speed limit along a section of Bear Tavern Road (County Route 579) in Hopewell Township, including the Bear Tavern Elementary School zone, would be lowered by 5 to 10 mph under an ordinance that Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes presented to the Board of County Commissioners last week.

The ordinance would lower the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph from 1,000 feet north of Maddock Road to Washington Crossing-Pennington Road (County Route 546), and from 30 mph to 25 mph when passing through the Bear Tavern Elementary School zone while “25 mph When Flashing” signs are operating during recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours.

The proposal to amend the speed limits is in response to a request made by Hopewell Township and following a review of that section of Bear Tavern Road made by the County’s traffic and planning consultant, Mr. Hughes said.

“Mercer County had looked at reducing the speed limit in front of the school to 25 mph a number of years ago, but a thorough review by our traffic engineer determined that it didn’t meet the necessary criteria,” Mr. Hughes said. “Recent guidance permits County engineers to consider other conditions as contributing factors, and I thank our Engineering Division for working with township and school officials to move this forward.”

The ordinance is expected to be considered for adoption at the Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 9 formal meeting.