Weaver Dairy Road Extension has a new permanent speed-calming sign that warns drivers of their current speed on the 25-miles-per-hour road.

According to Traffic Engineer Kumar Nappalli, around 50 percent of vehicles are going 34 miles-per-hour or higher on the road.

The sign, which was installed last week by Town of Chapel Hill crews, is expected to draw the attention of drivers to their speed in order to slow down vehicles and make the road safer.

The effort is part of the Police and Public Works Department’s direct response to recent concerns of speeding cars in neighborhoods and along Weaver Dairy Road Extension from community members.

Despite being designed to accommodate a 40-mile-per-hour speed, the Town of Chapel Hill says the road has a lower speed limit because it is considered a feeder road for multiple neighborhoods.

In May of this year, the Chapel Hill Town Council voted against a petition to raise the speed limit of the road to 35 miles-per-hour after many citizens who live in the area expressed concern for pedestrians who use the road.

In addition to the sign, Public Works crews are redesigning the grade of the land at the intersection of Weaver Dairy Road Extension and Palafox Drive, where there is a pedestrian crosswalk.

The grade change is expected to take place late this summer and is meant to improve the sight distance for vehicles on the road, as well as pedestrians crossing the road.

For more information, visit the Town of Chapel Hill’s website.