Route 2 Speed Trap – 1971

The early days of the “new” Ohio State Route 2 built in the 1960s has been a favorite topic on this blog.

The progress of its construction through our area was quite newsworthy, and I’ve posted many vintage newspaper articles from that time period.

And here’s another one, although this clipping is an editorial from the Lorain Journal of July 26, 1971. The subject is the Journal’s observation that the speed limits posted on that section of the new highway (which ran from today’s State Route 83 in Avon to Baumhart Road) did not conform to Ohio’s established policy, and in effect constituted a speed trap.

For some reason back then, the speed limit was posted at 60 mph (instead of the more common 70 mph for a divided, limited access highway) and dropped to 50 mph as it went through Amherst. It’s not unlike what went on for years in the Cleveland suburb of Linndale.

It's interesting that the Journal was looking out for its readers, trying to help them avoid costly speeding tickets. 

It’s a nice reminder of the days when the Journal was truly a Lorain newpaper, one that spoke to its readers daily on the Page of Opinion.