Bear River installs permanent 45 mph signs on Highway 89, town to monitor feedback

Bear River officials told residents on March 5 that new solar speed-limit signs marking 45 mph on Highway 89 have been installed and that an encroachment/approach permit was granted the day before.

At the workshop, Scotty reported, "We got the approachment permit yesterday, so we're good there. We're just waiting for them to install them and they installed them today," and said the signs have been placed on both ends of the stretch through town. Staff said feedback signs will be brought online to collect speed data and inform enforcement or further adjustments.

Council and staff clarified that the change is permanent rather than a one-year trial. When a resident asked about school-bus pickup safety and whether the school district had been contacted to move stops off the highway, staff said they had not yet heard back from the district and urged parents to contact the district transportation office to raise the concern.

Why it matters: Highway 89 is the main through route in and out of town; speed-limit changes affect traffic flow, enforcement needs and pedestrian safety near bus stops and driveway crossings. The town plans to monitor speeds and public feedback before proposing further measures.

Next steps: Staff said they will activate the feedback signs and collect data; residents were advised to contact the school-district transportation office if they have specific safety concerns about bus stops. No formal vote or ordinance amendment was recorded at the March 5 workshop.