Speed Limits Reduced Through Broadus
September 15, 2022
Earlier this month the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) put up new speed limit signs on Hwy 212 through Broadus, reducing the speed limit on the highway corridor through Broadus, while also reducing speeds coming into Broadus from east and west.
The reduction in speed limits came about after a speed study was completed, which had begun over a year ago, according to MDT District 4 Administrator Shane Mintz, who we spoke to last week.
The speed study was administered by the state, and used pneumatic road tubes. When a vehicle drives over the tube, the pressure created in the tube actuates an air-sensitive switch in a counter mechanism. The time difference between the two tubes, which are spaced a certain distance apart on the road is used to measure speed, almost like a pneumatic version of a chronograph, for those who are familiar with the method of measuring bullet speed.
Speed limits are often set using the "85th percentile method", which looks at speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past a monitored point.
MDT used this data, as well as comments and complaints, and talks with the PR County Commissioners to set the locations of each speed zone. Goals for the project were to reduce traffic speeds for those making turns, such as at East River Road or through Crane Acres, as well as reducing risk through town.
Earlier this year a fatal accident near Broadus Vet Clinic involving the death of two local teens punctuated the need for the reduction in speeds, and with the project's completion this summer the signs are finally up and traffic speeds reduced through Broadus.
Those coming into town from the east now drop down from 65 to 50 mph at the weigh station, then encounter a 40 mph sign near Catherine Stabio's old turkey house. At Powder River Taxidermy the speed is then reduced to 30 mph, and 25 mph just before the bridge at Cottonwood Park.
In the past, those signs were located just west of the Powder River bridge reducing speeds to 50, then 40 at the edge of town, and 30 a bit further north at the park than the current location.
Continuing through town the speed limit remains 25 mph.
When approaching from the west, the speed is now reduced to 50 mph coming off the hill between Broadus Meats and the TRECO substation, with speed reduced to 40 near Grant's Hardware, then 30 near the Moorhead turn, and 25 at the Boot and Tack and Silver Sage Clothing.
In the past the speed limit was reduced to 50 at the edge of Crane Acres, with traffic slowing to a posted 30 at the Boot and Tack/Silver Sage edge of town, and 25 mph for a single block before the stop sign.
The reduction in speed limits were welcomed by Sheriff Drane, who commented that it was a good thing to slow traffic down, but he wished MDT would've let the people enforcing the speed laws know about the changes. That lack of communication was echoed by the commissioners, who said they were not informed of when the changes would go into effect, though they had known a potential change was in the works due to their input after the speed study went through. We at the paper were not informed of any potential change either, despite receiving normal news releases from MDT which often dealt with projects strewn across Eastern Montana. Mintz noted that he had been in contact with the commissioners over the summer and let them know about the potential change, but the exact dates were not known when the signs would go up, as surveying and placement of signs took some time to complete.
Regardless of the exact nature of the timing and communication involved with when the signs went up, they are here to stay, and with the reduction in speeds the potential for accidents is reduced – though the changes may take some getting used to for those of us who spent many years driving with the old speed limits in place!
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