One week after Iowa’s new speed limit law took effect, state and county officials are continuing to update speed limit signs while also reminding drivers that not every rural road is changing from 55 mph to 60 mph.The law, which took effect July 1, raises Iowa’s default speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph on paved roads without a posted speed limit sign. It applies to some two-lane state highways and rural paved roads. The change does not apply to multilane highways or gravel roads.The Iowa Department of Transportation says it has already updated about 1,200 speed limit signs on state highways and has nearly completed its portion of the work. “Here in the Des Moines, central Iowa area, there’s roadways like Highway 17 going up to Madrid or 210 or even 69 north of Huxley,” said Daniel Yeh, the Iowa Department of Transportation’s director of government and community relations. “Those are good examples of two-lane rural paved roadways.”Not every road that was previously posted at 55 mph, however, is being changed to 60.The DOT says some state highways will remain at 55 mph because engineers determined higher speeds would not be appropriate based on roadway conditions and traffic.”We really want people to follow the speed limit of whatever the sign says, because there are some of those roadways that are not changing,” Yeh said. “Some of those we kept at 55 because there’s engineering and traffic reasons to keep them there. There might be too many curves or too many driveways or just too much traffic.”Another change drivers may notice is on their navigation apps and in-vehicle mapping systems.The Iowa Department of Transportation says it maintains a statewide map that includes speed limits and other roadway information, such as pavement type. The agency shares that data with private companies, which can then provide updated information to Google and other mapping services.That is how speed limits displayed on smartphones and in vehicle navigation systems are updated.As for when drivers will begin seeing those changes, the DOT says, “it’s a bit of a mystery.”County engineers are also updating signs and reviewing roads under their jurisdiction.Brian Moore, executive director of the Iowa County Engineers Association Service Bureau, said counties are conducting engineering studies before deciding whether some roads should remain at 55 mph.”The county engineers have to go through a process of looking at, you know, horizontal curves, vertical curves, pavement markings,” Moore said. “So, there’s more to it than just putting up a 60-mile-an-hour sign. Some of this will be taking effect over the next few months.”Those reviews could result in different speed limits on similar roads in neighboring counties.”A road could change due to hills or curves as you cross from one county to another,” Moore said. “So, it may be 60 in one but remain 55 in another. So those are a case-by-case basis.”The Iowa State Patrol is encouraging drivers to rely on posted speed limit signs “Our county and our state officials are still working to assess those different roadways, and they’ll be doing that over the next several weeks,” Sgt. Alex Dinkla said. But our message right now is really follow the speed limit signs.”Officials also say drivers should remember that a posted speed limit is not always the safest speed.”Be cognizant of those different weather changes, whether it’s rain, sleet, snow, wind, whatever it may be,” Dinkla said. “If you need to reduce your speed, don’t feel bad about reducing that speed.”
One week after Iowa’s new speed limit law took effect, state and county officials are continuing to update speed limit signs while also reminding drivers that not every rural road is changing from 55 mph to 60 mph.
The law, which took effect July 1, raises Iowa’s default speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph on paved roads without a posted speed limit sign. It applies to some two-lane state highways and rural paved roads. The change does not apply to multilane highways or gravel roads.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says it has already updated about 1,200 speed limit signs on state highways and has nearly completed its portion of the work.
“Here in the Des Moines, central Iowa area, there’s roadways like Highway 17 going up to Madrid or 210 or even 69 north of Huxley,” said Daniel Yeh, the Iowa Department of Transportation’s director of government and community relations. “Those are good examples of two-lane rural paved roadways.”
Not every road that was previously posted at 55 mph, however, is being changed to 60.
The DOT says some state highways will remain at 55 mph because engineers determined higher speeds would not be appropriate based on roadway conditions and traffic.
“We really want people to follow the speed limit of whatever the sign says, because there are some of those roadways that are not changing,” Yeh said. “Some of those we kept at 55 because there’s engineering and traffic reasons to keep them there. There might be too many curves or too many driveways or just too much traffic.”
Another change drivers may notice is on their navigation apps and in-vehicle mapping systems.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says it maintains a statewide map that includes speed limits and other roadway information, such as pavement type. The agency shares that data with private companies, which can then provide updated information to Google and other mapping services.
That is how speed limits displayed on smartphones and in vehicle navigation systems are updated.
As for when drivers will begin seeing those changes, the DOT says, “it’s a bit of a mystery.”
County engineers are also updating signs and reviewing roads under their jurisdiction.
Brian Moore, executive director of the Iowa County Engineers Association Service Bureau, said counties are conducting engineering studies before deciding whether some roads should remain at 55 mph.
“The county engineers have to go through a process of looking at, you know, horizontal curves, vertical curves, pavement markings,” Moore said. “So, there’s more to it than just putting up a 60-mile-an-hour sign. Some of this will be taking effect over the next few months.”
Those reviews could result in different speed limits on similar roads in neighboring counties.
“A road could change due to hills or curves as you cross from one county to another,” Moore said. “So, it may be 60 in one but remain 55 in another. So those are a case-by-case basis.”
The Iowa State Patrol is encouraging drivers to rely on posted speed limit signs
“Our county and our state officials are still working to assess those different roadways, and they’ll be doing that over the next several weeks,” Sgt. Alex Dinkla said. But our message right now is really follow the speed limit signs.”
Officials also say drivers should remember that a posted speed limit is not always the safest speed.
“Be cognizant of those different weather changes, whether it’s rain, sleet, snow, wind, whatever it may be,” Dinkla said. “If you need to reduce your speed, don’t feel bad about reducing that speed.”
