People might be able to drive faster -- legally -- on some Douglas County highways after a study found that artificially low speed limits were largely being ignored.
The purpose of the study, conducted by Jewell Associates Engineers Inc., was to re-evaluate speed limit postings and speed zone locations along 27 highway segments to determine compliance with recently developed statewide speed management guidelines.
The guidelines were unveiled in 2009 as part of an initiative to reduce highway deaths. Artificially low speed limits can result in a higher speed differential among drivers and can increase safety issues, said Tony Kemnitz, a traffic engineer and senior project manager with Jewell.
"People are typically driving well above the posted speed limits in Douglas County, in the range of 9 to 16 mph above the limit," he said.
Based on the findings of the study, speed limits could increase along 13 stretches of county highways countywide. In four areas -- Poplar, Maple, Lake Nebagamon and Brule -- the speed limit would increase to
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35 mph to eliminate nonstandard 30 mph zones. However, a final recommendation on the Maple speed limit awaits the completion of construction on County Highway F.
Recommendations are based on road surveys, speed data collection, crash history and geometric reviews, and traffic engineering analysis.
Other speed limit changes recommended include:
* County Highway B from 0.2 miles west of Meierotto Road to State Highway 35 in the town of Superior, 45 mph.
* County Highway K from 0.2 miles south to
.025 miles north of County Highway C East in Parkland, 45 mph.
* County Highway A from Milchesky Road to
0.25 miles north of Tri Lakes Road in Summit,
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45 mph.
* County Highway B from Leggate Road to
0.33 miles east of Leggate Road in the town of Superior, 45 mph with a school zone posting.
* County Highway B from County Highway A to County Highway K in Oakland, 55 mph.
* County Highway G from Antoine Circle to County Highway Y, 45 mph.
* County Highway P from East Minnesuing Road to 0.06 miles south of East Homestead Road in Bennett.
* County Highway T from Geshn Road to
0.14 miles west of Lakeview Drive in Wascott, 35 mph.
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Speed limit changes have not been recommended for County Highway B from State Highway 35 to Preston Road, but study data is not yet complete because of construction.
Road design and typical driving speeds drove most of the recommended changes.
While recommendations also were made for speed limit increases on County Road E from City Limits Road to State Highway 53, the highway committee eliminated the change from the draft ordinance because the road is in the city of Superior. The committee approved the remainder of the ordinance.
The ordinance still requires approval by the Douglas County Board before the new speed zones would take effect.
