Traffic on a section of State Road 3 in North Vernon is expected to slow down in the near future.

The North Vernon City Council voted Monday night to approve a plan to lower the speed limit on a section of the road, from the intersection of Madison Avenue to IN 750/US 50, to 45 miles per hour. City officials say that the affected section of State Road 3 was turned over from the state to local officials for maintenance within the past year.

North Vernon Police Chief James Webster pushed for the change, which he says is needed after a slew of traffic crashes in that area. A representative with the city’s Streets Department told council members that expenses will be minimal, as the road signs needed for the change are already available.

The city council unanimously approved the change. The body is expected to give its final approval to the plan in two weeks.