THATCHER — Drivers need to be aware that speed limit on 1st Avenue in Thatcher has been significantly lowered.
The 25 miles an hour speed limit — down from 35 miles an hour — is now in effect on 1st Avenue from U.S. Highway 70 to 8th Street.
In July, the Thatcher Town Council directed town staff to lower the speed limit, citing the residential nature and the number of children playing in the area.
The speed limit on 1st Avenue, from 8th Street south to about Cox Lane remains 30 miles an hour, and increases to 35 miles an hour from Cox Lane south to Golf Course Road.
The east side of 1st Avenue from 8th Street to Ditch Bank Road is in Thatcher, from Ditch Bank to Cox Lane is in unincorporated Graham County, returns to Thatcher from Cox to Catclaw Street, then returns to Graham County from Catclaw to Golf Course Road.
At that same July meeting, the Thatcher Town Council recommended to Arizona Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit on U.S. Highway 70 to 35 miles an hour through the town — from 20th Avenue to Reay Lane — due to a planned realignment of the roadway at 1st Avenue. ADOT has not yet indicated if it will take action on the recommendation.
