The following release is from Black Hawk County:
On Tuesday, September 22, the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors approved County Engineer Cathy Nicholas’ recommendation to maintain the speed limit at 55 miles per hour on the county’s secondary roads following a three-month review of more than 230 miles of paved county roads.
The Iowa Legislature passed SF 378, in July, which allows speed limits on certain secondary roads to be increased to 60 mph. Before implementing the countywide change, the Black Hawk County Engineer’s Office felt it was important to conduct a detailed review of local road conditions and the potential impacts of increased speeds.
“We wanted to take the time to thoroughly study the roads before making a decision that could have a significant impact on safety,” Nicholas said. “This is a big change that could impact many, and this type of thought should be put into the study.”
Over the past three months, Road Department staff reviewed more than 230 miles of paved secondary roads, looking at factors including:
- Iowa DOT Road Design standards
- Roadside characteristics of County roads
- Ditch depth and roadside terrain
- Obstacles that could pose a hazard to vehicles leaving the roadway
- High-crash intersections and the causes of crashes at those locations
- Stopping distances at higher speeds
In her report, Nicholas identified the areas within the county’s control that can contribute to roadway safety, including maintaining roads in the best condition possible, establishing appropriate speed limits, and working with law enforcement on speed-limit enforcement.
The review reaffirmed that some rural roads would benefit from additional speed limit signage, particularly at the county line, DOT/County intersections, rural subdivisions, and sealcoated roads.
Based on the review, Nicholas recommended that Black Hawk County maintain the existing 55-mph speed limit on all secondary roads. “Our secondary roads were not designed for 60 miles per hour,” Nicholas said. Sheriff Nate Neff also voiced support of maintaining the 55-mph limit on county roads, citing the impact of increased speeds on stopping distances and overall roadway safety.
Because the new state law allows for individual consideration of secondary road speed limits, the county will move forward with a road-by-road process. The Engineer’s Office will bring resolutions to the Board of Supervisors that established a new speed zone for each paved county road, accompanied by the study information supporting the recommendation to maintain the 55-mph speed limit
The review reflects the county’s approach to carefully considering the design, condition, and characteristics of its secondary road system before making changes that could affect motorists throughout Black Hawk County.
To watch the full discussion, view the September 22 Board of Supervisors meeting (beginning at 39:40) on the Black Hawk County YouTube channel: youtube.com/@blackhawkcountyiowa.
Questions may be directed to:
• Board of Supervisors Office: [email protected] | (319) 833-3072
• County Engineer’s Office:[email protected] | (319) 833-3008