Conway Road Beacon Coming Despite Residential Complaints

In a few weeks, drivers and pedestrians along Conway Road will notice a new device meant to ensure pedestrian safety at Laduemont Drive, even if residents in the area don't want it there.

After hearing last month from , like the one pictured here near , council members said they would visit the area and render a decision. 

Residents in the nearby subdivisions questioned if the device was incorporated into sidewalk construction in the area as a way of helping the city "score well" on grant applications as opposed to being something truly needed. 

The beacon's flashing light operates for 20 seconds when a button is pressed and then the solar-powered light shuts off.

Sheffield Estate subdivision trustee Jerry Ritter, who has lived there for 40 years, said last month he was concerned over the impact on property values, calling the beacons "ugly" and "unsightly" and "overkill of a non-existent problem."

The other concern is that the beacon is out of character for the area, given that unlike the Spoede location, the proposed one is not a school crossing zone.

Council members ultimately decided Monday that the beacon was a necessary safety initiative to pair with the sidewalk project. Residents did not speak at Monday's council meeting.

Public Works Director Jim Heines told Patch Wednesday that contractors involved with the project would likely install the beacon sometime in the next few weeks.