The Port Wentworth Police Department on Thursday announced it would enforce a zero-tolerance policy for driving violations within its city limits beginning Thursday afternoon through early Monday morning.
Police Chief Matt Libby said officers have been instructed to issue citations for all violations and no warnings would be issued as the department holds its annual St. Patrick’s Day Traffic Safety Initiative from 4 p.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Monday.
The operation will include a larger than usual police presence, random road safety check points at various locations to check for drivers under the influence, unrestrained drivers and other infractions, said police Sgt. Steven Holmes. Police ask that drivers have their license and insurance information available when they approach a road check to keep the process moving.
“We hope that everyone who chooses to celebrate this holiday weekend does so responsibly and we will do our part to keep the roads safe so that they can make it home,” Libby said in a prepared statement. “If you decide to drink, please use a designated driver or taxi. There are also programs in place to bring you and your vehicle home should you have too much to drink, so there is really no excuse to get behind the wheel impaired.”
Avondale, city to pursue traffic calming
Neighbors living in eastern Savannah’s Avondale neighborhood and along Bonaventure Road within city limits voted to move ahead with planning for traffic calming along four streets during a meeting Thursday night.
About 30 residents of the area gathered at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Tennessee Avenue to listen to city representatives explain what traffic calming is and what the steps would be if they chose to move forward.
Michele Strickland, a traffic engineer with the city of Savannah, explained traffic calming is designed to slow traffic and limit volume in areas without the help of traffic control devices like stop signs or traffic lights.
Moving forward, the city and the neighborhood will study traffic along Georgia, New York and Texas avenues and Bonaventure Road before drafting a master plan for traffic calming in those areas.
“Our goal is to slow down traffic in the neighborhoods, reduce inappropriate cut-through traffic, make streets generally safer and make the area safer for bicyclists and pedestrians,” Strickland said. “It’s a quality-of-life issue for all of you who live in the area.”
Among the options neighbors will have to consider are speed humps and tables, traffic circles, center islands and medians.
Strickland said representatives for the neighborhood would be in contact with residents in the area to advise about meetings and planning moving forward.
Parking on Hutchinson Island open for St. Patrick’s Day festivities
Parking will be available on Hutchinson Island during St. Patrick’s Day festivities Saturday.
Parking will be available at the Trade & Convention center for $15 — which includes round-trip transportation across the river — beginning 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
Those parking on Hutchinson will be able to use either the ferry or a shuttle to cross over the Savannah River.
The ferry will operate from 7 a.m. Saturday until 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
CAT will also offer a shuttle over the Talmadge Bridge to Indian Street just west of River Street and back from 7 a.m. Saturday to 4 a.m. Sunday.
Compiled by Corey Dickstein