Richmond to lower speed limit on city roadway to improve safety

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Drivers will soon need to take things a little slower on one Richmond roadway as the city moves to reduce its speed limit.

The speed limit on Westover Hills Boulevard between Forest Hill Avenue and the Nickel Bridge/toll plaza is being lowered to 25 mph, according to a March 31 press release from the city.

This decision was made as part of Richmond's "Vision Zero" efforts. Vision Zero is an international movement aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries to zero.

“Westover Hills Boulevard has always been a road of connection,” said Richmond City councilwoman Sarah Abubaker in the release. “As our neighborhoods have evolved, so has the way people travel — shifting from primarily cars to a mix of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-vehicular commuters. Lowering the speed limit reflects our community’s evolving safety needs and the clear feedback we’ve heard from residents.”

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Signage along Westover Hills Boulevard will be updated in mid-April. Drivers are asked to slow down while this work is completed and give construction workers additional space.

“By decreasing vehicle speeds, we create a safer environment for everyone — especially our most vulnerable road users, ” said Richmond's transportation director Andy Boenau in the release. “Managing speeds through engineering, enforcement and education is part of our ongoing commitment to create a transportation system that’s comfortable for all ages, all abilities and all modes of travel.”