Speed study will lower limits on unpaved roads

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Unpaved county roads near Wellington will have new speed limits posted the first week in August.

The new limits on previously unposted roads, which by default allowed speeds up to 55 miles per hour, will now be posted at 40 or 45 mph.

The signs are going up as a result of speed studies conducted by the Larimer County Engineering Department. Traffic engineer Martina Wilkinson said five segments will be posted soon, but the speed study is ongoing in the Waverly area.

"We're trying to work our way through the county to establish speed limits," she said.

Studies include gathering data from speed counters to determine prevailing speeds, studying crash records and driving the roads. Issues such as curves, driveways, sight distances and narrow bridges are taken into account.

The following speed limit changes have been determined so far. County Road 62 between CR 11 and State Highway 1--40 mph CR 62E between CR 11 and CR 9--40 mph CR 11 between CR 56 and Highway 1--40 mph CR 11 between CR 62 and CR 64--40 mph CR 11 between CR 64 and CR 70--45 mph

Wilkinson said the studies in the Wellington-Waverly area are a response to citizen concerns about unsafe speeds. If a roadway is not posted, state law allows 55 mph on unpaved county roads.

"We have to find a balance between pedestrians, equestrians and mainline county roads," Wilkinson said.

The county will also upgrade warning signs on southbound CR 11 where it makes a 90-degree turn onto CR 62.