Hearing to be Held on Columbia Co. Speed Limits

DAYTON— The Columbia County Commissioners have set a hearing to receive public comment about proposed changes to speed limits on some county roads.

Public Works Director Andrew Woods said the proposal is for the speed limit on all primitive roads in the county, and some roads having steep grades, be set at 35 m.p.h. A reduced speed limit, from 40 m.p.h. to 35 on North Touchet Road, from the Dayton city limits to the South Touchet Road turnoff, is also proposed.

Woods said that about 18 months ago, the commissioners were approached by a group of community members with a request to make roads more ATV friendly, particularly Eckler Mountain Road, North and South Touchet Roads, and Payne’s Hollow Road into the mountains.

Woods said that at the time, the commissioners decided other areas where speed limit changes could be made should be examined. Primitive roads and steep grades were then included.

Primitive roads are those that are narrow, with dirt or gravel, and having short curves, and which are mainly used by farmers and their equipment, he explained. Roads like Hartsock Road which has a steep grade, ware also targeted for the 35-m.p.h. speed limit.

Woods said, “On Hartsock, brakes on trailers and RVs are often smoking from driving too fast.”

Authorization of temporary speed limit reductions for county maintenance and construction projects is also in the proposal, Woods said. “We need to slow folks down by making safe speeds on roads,” he said.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, April 16, on the third floor of the Columbia County Courthouse. Comments may be sent in writing to Columbia County Public Works Department, PO Box 5, Dayton, WA 99328, no later than the time and date of the hearing.

A detailed list of affected roads is available online at: http://www.columbiaco.com/publicworks.