ITD agrees to lower speed at Three Mile

BONNERS FERRY — After pressure to lower the speed limit through the Three Mile area, the Idaho Transportation Department is reducing the 60 mph speed zone to 55 mph on Highway 95.

In addition, ITD is going to place advanced warning signs of the congested area and request increased law enforcement in the area.

The speed limit would be reduced on Highway 95 from north of the intersection with Highway 2 to the 45 mph sign on the North Hill.

Further reduction of the speed limit would depend on a follow-up speed study in the spring of 2014.

The last study, completed in April, showed that 85 percent of the traffic was traveling at 61 mph or less. The highest speed recorded was 130 mph.

Speed limits are partially established by the 85 percentile of traffic speed. Boundary County Commissioner Dan Dinning recommended 45 mph because of the amount of turning traffic in the Three Mile area.

“I’m not seeing a case for 45 mph,” said Damon Allen of ITD. “I could administratively go to 55 mph but 45 mph would be too much of a stretch. If you lower to 45 mph there would be more crashes.”

A larger differential between the posted speed limit and what people are comfortable traveling leads to more crashes explained Allen. By reducing the speed limit to 55 mph, the faster drivers would be closer to the speed the slower traffic is traveling.

“Fifty-five miles per hour is enough for locals,” said Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton. “Locals slow down. What’s unique is Canadian and Montana traffic. Those are the ones not adhering to the speeds.”

With the reduced speed limit, a law enforcement presence will be needed to slow down out-of-town drivers, said Allen. ITD has funds for enhanced patrols with the Idaho State Police.

Commissioner Dinning recommended placing a speed strip at the intersection to see if people are slowing down through the intersection, which he thinks is true.

The speed study is done 1,200 to 2,500 feet beyond the intersection said ITD officials. By that point many people have regained their speed from slowing down, said Dinning.

Commissioner Walt Kirby attested to the accidents he has seen because of traffic going through the intersection at 60 mph with truck traffic creating blind spots.

“We are trying to be proactive (about crashes) but your rules and liabilities won’t allow 45 mph without studies,” said Dinning. “That’s your guidelines until we have more crashes unfortunately.”

The crash rate in the Three Mile area is average for the 7,000 cars per day that travel the highway, said Allen.

If the speed study in the spring finds that 85 percent of the traffic is traveling at 55 or 56 mph with the new speed limit, ITD could administratively reduce the speed by another five miles per hour.

“A step in the right direction,” said Kirby. “The Three Mile is starting to be a hub. I’d much rather slow down than have accidents.