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County engineer warns board: state move to 60 mph raises sign, safety and workload questions
Summary
Des Moines County engineers told supervisors the state’s recent change to 60 mph on many paved roads could create logistics and safety issues locally — from sign shortages to the need for engineering reviews on curves — and the board discussed temporary options including a county resolution to hold limits at 55 mph while work proceeds.
County engineers told the Board of Supervisors that last week’s statewide action to raise speed limits to 60 mph on many paved, unsigned county roads presents practical challenges for local implementation.
Ryan Carter, who spoke for Secondary Roads, said the change was recently signed at the state level and that counties will face a short-term scramble to retrofit signage and verify that road geometry meets 60-mph design standards. Carter noted that counties without their own sign-making shops may lack enough sticker-stock or replacement signs to enact changes by the July 1 effective date and recommended careful engineering reviews of curves and intersections that are unsigned or that currently rely on advisory placards. “I don't think it's complied by July 1 to have the proper signage in place to handle that,” he said.
Board members and staff discussed options including leaving county limits at 55 mph through a short-term county resolution to allow time for sign procurement and engineering reviews, or allowing the code to stand and update signage over time. Staff also flagged potential fiscal implications and liability/insurance considerations related to signing and enforcement.
The board did not adopt a countywide speed-limit resolution at the meeting but directed staff to confer with county engineers and law-enforcement partners on an implementation approach and a schedule for sign procurement and engineering reviews.
