95 mph in a 25 mph zone highlights traffic issues around data center sites
Fairfax, Iowa, is experiencing significant traffic and speeding issues on local streets, with speeds up to 95 mph in a 25 mph zone. This surge in traffic is attributed to construction workers commuting to new data center project sites just east of the city. The Fairfax City Council is considering approving a formal traffic study in response to these complaints.
The city of Fairfax, Iowa, is grappling with a surge in traffic and extreme speeding on its local roads, with speeds recorded as high as 95 mph in 25 mph zones. This issue is directly linked to the ongoing construction of new data centers located just east of the city, as workers frequently use Fairfax city streets as a shortcut to reach the project sites.
In response to numerous resident complaints, the Fairfax City Council is set to consider approving a formal traffic study during its upcoming meeting. Prior to this, the city deployed radar signs on three key thoroughfares—Church Street, Linn Street, and Fairfax Road—to gather data on vehicle counts and speeds. The findings revealed widespread speeding, with Fairfax Road being the most affected, where 81% of drivers exceeded the speed limit and 19 instances of speeds over 75 mph were recorded within 23 days.
The collected data indicates a significant increase in daily traffic volume coinciding with the ramp-up of data center construction. For instance, Church Street saw a 29% increase in traffic, and Linn Street experienced a 49% jump. The periods of highest traffic and speeding align with worker shift changes, typically between 5:00-8:00 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM.
The Fairfax City Council confirmed it is collaborating with representatives from the data center projects and has discussed various solutions, including new signage, enhanced speed enforcement, and potential construction projects, in addition to the proposed traffic study.