PORT TOWNSEND — Speed limits on some Jefferson County roads have changed, and new signs will be installed this month.
Most of the changes affect short segments of gravel roads and other low-volume roadways.
There are four changes that will affect a greater number of drivers:
• The speed limit on South Jacob Miller Road from Hastings Avenue to South Discovery Road was lowered from 40 mph to 35 mph.
Reasons include continued development adjacent to the roadway, public concern about safety at the intersection with Landfill Road, and the narrowness of the roadway north of that intersection.
Much of the road already has lower advisory speeds due to curves and limited visibility.
• The speed limit for the segment of Cook Avenue Extension from Hastings Avenue to the Port Townsend city limit has been lowered from 35 mph to 25 mph.
This change comes after consideration of the narrow driving surface, minimal roadside clear zone, horizontal and vertical alignment, traffic volume, adjacent land use and driveway density, presence of Jefferson Transit buses, and for consistency with the adjacent city segment.
The new speed limit matches the speed limit on Cook Avenue within the city.
• The speed limit on Prospect Avenue from Kala Point Drive to the dead end at the bluff overlooking Port Townsend Bay has been lowered from 40 mph to 25 mph.
This is a short section of street in a residential neighborhood where all other streets are already posted at 25 mph.
Public Works conducted a speed study after receiving a 36-signature petition and letter from residents living along or adjacent to Prospect Avenue concerned about speeding.
• The speed limit on Upper Hoh Road between mileposts 2.86 and 4.45 has been lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph.
Reasons include the narrow driving surface, minimal roadside clear zones, traffic volume during the summer months, sharp horizontal and steep vertical alignment, adjacent land use and a significant portion of this section already being advised at 25 mph.
A 35-mph speed limit is consistent with the majority of the remaining segments of Upper Hoh Road.
The county commissioners modified speed limits for a number of county roads through Resolution 39-10 adopted on Sept. 27 following a Public Works staff presentation and public hearing.
For more information about the setting of speed limits, see www.co.jefferson.wa.us/publicworks/roads.
