The Fremont County Commissioners approved a pair of resolutions at their August 11th regular meeting setting speed limits on High Park Road (County Road 11) to Cripple Creek.
One resolution establishes a 35 mph speed limit from Highway 9 northeast to County Road 5. The other resolution makes the more significant change by increasing the speed limit to 45 mph from CR 5 to the Teller County Line.
District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden noted that since he took office over four years ago he has heard citizens' complaints about speed traps at the bottom of a long hill just east of CR 5, while ranchers complain of speeding motorists killing their cattle and driving away. Norden said the county had maintained that speed limit primarily because of a posted cattle crossing where cattle have to cross the road to get to water. Typically every year several head of cattle are struck and killed by speeding motorists.
Norden also noted that another reason the county delayed in adjusting the speed limit is that the State Patrol has targeted High Park Road for safety speed enforcement because of the high number of injury and fatal accidents along that road headed to Cripple Creek.
Norden said Tallahassee District 3 Road Foreman Curtis Stone came up with a proposal to cut rumble strips in the pavement as motorists approach the cattle crossing from both directions. The county believes that will better serve an effort to get motorists' attention to slow down to the 45 mph speed limit to watch for cattle. The Road and Bridge Department also intends to improve the signage for the cattle crossing.
County Manager George Sugars shared the results of a speed analysis performed last spring. The study showed that 85 percent of the traffic that came through the area averages 55 miles per hour. Sugars said the commissioners believe posting a 45 mph speed limit is a reasonable compromise that makes sense for motorists unhappy over speed traps, plus should still address the safety issues of avoiding loss of life for both motorists and ranchers' livestock.
The only other action taken by the commissioners was to ratify prior action to write a letter of support and authorization of the chairman's signature for an Energy Mineral Impact grant application. The application was submitted before the July 31st deadline to seek funds to help finance an estimated $43,000 design contract for a future water line from Florence to the county's property at Pathfinder Regional Park.
One resolution establishes a 35 mph speed limit from Highway 9 northeast to County Road 5. The other resolution makes the more significant change by increasing the speed limit to 45 mph from CR 5 to the Teller County Line.
District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden noted that since he took office over four years ago he has heard citizens' complaints about speed traps at the bottom of a long hill just east of CR 5, while ranchers complain of speeding motorists killing their cattle and driving away. Norden said the county had maintained that speed limit primarily because of a posted cattle crossing where cattle have to cross the road to get to water. Typically every year several head of cattle are struck and killed by speeding motorists.
Norden also noted that another reason the county delayed in adjusting the speed limit is that the State Patrol has targeted High Park Road for safety speed enforcement because of the high number of injury and fatal accidents along that road headed to Cripple Creek.
Norden said Tallahassee District 3 Road Foreman Curtis Stone came up with a proposal to cut rumble strips in the pavement as motorists approach the cattle crossing from both directions. The county believes that will better serve an effort to get motorists' attention to slow down to the 45 mph speed limit to watch for cattle. The Road and Bridge Department also intends to improve the signage for the cattle crossing.
County Manager George Sugars shared the results of a speed analysis performed last spring. The study showed that 85 percent of the traffic that came through the area averages 55 miles per hour. Sugars said the commissioners believe posting a 45 mph speed limit is a reasonable compromise that makes sense for motorists unhappy over speed traps, plus should still address the safety issues of avoiding loss of life for both motorists and ranchers' livestock.
The only other action taken by the commissioners was to ratify prior action to write a letter of support and authorization of the chairman's signature for an Energy Mineral Impact grant application. The application was submitted before the July 31st deadline to seek funds to help finance an estimated $43,000 design contract for a future water line from Florence to the county's property at Pathfinder Regional Park.