EDGEWATER — The city installed school-zone warning signs near three Edgewater schools — Sacred Heart, Jewish Day School and Hayt Elementary — after neighborhood complaints about speedy motorists.
Dan Luna, chief of staff for Ald. Harry Osterman (48th), said his office requested the signs to warn drivers to follow the 20 mph speed limit around the schools.
"Those went up quickly, within a month," he said.
Resident Jim Ness said he complained to Luna after realizing there were no warning signs in front of Sacred Heart, at 6250 N. Sheridan Road, just before Sheridan's curve at Loyola University.
"People come around that bend and they see an open road and they want to get as many lights under their belt that they can," Ness said. "People are speeding. They’re going to kill that crossing guard if nothing else. It’s really bad."
Luna said the city planned to install additional signs near the bend of the road in hopes of slowing southbound motorists before they reach the school.
Mike Riordan, Sacred Heart's head of security and former a Chicago Police officer, said there hadn't been signs near the school "for a long time."
"It’s one of those things that we weren't expecting," he said. "It’s great for the school to have it out there."
When the school's 700 students are dismissed on school days, Riordan said, teachers and school security are sure to keep them safe near busy Sheridan Road.
"We have all the bases covered," he said.
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