2/24/2015
Speed limit increasing for short section of Pole Line Road beginning Wednesday
TWIN FALLS – Reflecting current roadway conditions and traffic speed, the speed limit for a short section of Pole Line Road, from Washington Street to near Fillmore Street, will increase from 35 mph to 45 mph beginning Wednesday (Feb. 25), the Idaho Transportation Department announced. The section is about three-quarters of a mile long.
The 45-mph speed zone will extend from its current location west of Washington Street about three-quarters of a mile east, ending about halfway between Harrison and Fillmore Streets. This area of Pole Line Road has few access points, several left-turn bays for turning traffic, and an 85th-percentile speed of about 43 mph.
Click here for a map of the speed limit adjustment location.
In accordance with federal guidelines, ITD uses the 85th percentile, the speed at which 85 percent of the traffic is driving, to determine a safe and reasonable speed. The increased speed limit has been agreed upon by the city of Twin Falls police and engineering departments.
The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of this section ranges from 24,000 vehicles per day with limited pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
The speed limit change follows an engineering traffic study conducted in early February. The final study reported only 10 crashes in the area from 2011 to 2014, mostly rear-end and intersection-related collisions. The controlled access, raised medians and limited-turning traffic also factored into the increased limit.
“This change reflects the conditions of the roadway and how people already drive,” said Bruce Christensen, ITD District 4 (south-central Idaho) traffic engineer. “The safe operation by drivers in this section of roadway has led to this increased speed limit.”
Drivers are reminded that current speed limits will remain in effect until the new signs have been installed.