By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Liberty Township installed a series of rumble strips recently on the northbound lane of Maud Hughes Road to slow drivers as they near a dangerous curve before a one-lane bridge. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - After receiving complaints about noise, township officials are taking a second look at rumble strips that recently were placed on a dangerous stretch of road to slow motorists.

Since the strips went in on Maud-Hughes Road just north of Hamilton-Mason Road three weeks ago, there have not been any accidents, acting Township Administrator Barry Tiffany said. But at least two neighbors have griped to the township that tires hitting the strips causes excessive noise.

Township leaders also are looking into reports that motorists are driving on the southbound lanes - toward oncoming traffic - to avoid the strips.

The devices were installed on the northbound lanes of the narrow, winding road that abruptly dumps vehicles into the one-lane bridge over Gregory Creek.

Now, the strips - a pilot project - could be removed, Trustee Christine Matacic acknowledged Tuesday.

Stops signs, flashing or solid lights or other alternatives to control traffic might be considered.

"We are not saying they must be removed. Right now it's preliminary," Matacic said. "Sometimes when you do a trial you have to go back to the drawing board and take a look and see if there is a better way to do this, and that's what we're doing now."

Neighbors previously complained to the township about frequent accidents. But one neighbor says he hasn't complained before is now because the noise from the strips is "unbearable."

"It's just terrible. I was sitting on my porch this morning at 4 a.m. because I couldn't sleep," said Bill McDaniel, 52. "They are going off the strips into the left lane to avoid them. That's going to cause an accident. They need to take them up. It's causing a lot of conflict. If it was on an interstate, I could understand. But it's hard for me to believe they would put those in a residential area."

The thermal plastic strips went in after two fatal accidents last year. They cost $2,620 and are a 1/4-inch thick and 8 inches wide.

The township has guardrails on the bridge and signs posted notifying motorists that the coming bridge is one lane and has a reduced speed limit. It dips from 45 mph to 15 mph.

But those efforts weren't enough to curtail accidents. Last year, there were 15 accidents along Maud-Hughes Road, police records show.

In the most recent fatal accident, Michael Tucker, 24, of Liberty, died days after driving his 1995 Chevy Camaro at a high rate of speed, failing to slow for the curve and running off the road Nov. 23, a crash report shows.

His car went airborne, slammed into a utility pole, and rolled on its top.

The township turned to rumble strips in part because the county engineer's office won't have money anytime soon for the major construction project to reconfigure the road and bridge.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com