Kennett Square cracks down on speeders

Kennett Square police issued 113 traffic citations in February, an average of more than four per day.

Kennett Square is cracking down on speeders.

Police issued 113 traffic citations in February, an average of more than four per day. And they issued 34 warnings.

“Traffic citations are higher than average,” said Lt. William Holdsworth, who on Monday was conditionally hired to be Kennett Square’s next police chief. “We have been increasing our traffic enforcement for speeding violations.”

Besides parking, speeding is a top complaint in Kennett Square. The speed limit on many roads in the one-square-mile town is either 25 mph or 35 mph. And

many streets are in residential neighborhoods, where children play. And with February being the warmest month on record, with some days getting into the 70s, many children have been outside.

“I’m sure the citizens of Kennett Square appreciate the stepped-up traffic details,” said Dan Maffei, council president. “I know I do.”

Holdsworth is expected to be hired as new police chief on April 3. On that date, council is expected to hire three new full-time officers to bolster the police force.

The Kennett Square Police Department received 571 calls in February, Holdsworth said.

Recently, the Kennett Square Police Department teamed up with Kennett Township Police Department to curb the problem of overweight trucks, which not only are a safety hazard, but cause roadways to wear prematurely.

Last month, Kennett Square police teamed up with Kennett Township Police and state police to stage two safety forums at Kendal Crosslands Retirement complex, to make the residents there aware of the growing scams occurring.

And Mayor Matt Fetick, who oversees the police department, said he is continuing to work with state and county officials and PennDOT to bring improvements to the Old Baltimore Pike and Newark Road intersection. Fetick said when that intersection gets improved, it will divert much of the truck traffic out of Kennett Square.

“Once Newark Road and Old Baltimore Pike intersection is fixed, we can keep truck traffic on Route 1 to Newark Road,” Fetick said. “(Tractor-trailers) can come through Toughkenamon instead of coming through the borough. We want PennDOT to know fixing that intersection directly impacts our borough. If we can alleviate the truck traffic and keep them on Route 1, it will lighten the load.”

Because of the steep and winding grade on Newark Road as it approaches Old Baltimore Pike, it is impossible for tractor-trailers to travel through the intersection.

Fetick also announced that the traffic signal at Marshall and Cypress streets will get a turning arrow.

FROM PAGE 3

FRAN MAYE — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Many of the roads in Kennett Square, including South Union Street approaching State Street, are posted as 25 mph.