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Allamakee County keeps 55 mph maximum on paved secondary roads
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution establishing a 55‑mph maximum on paved concrete and asphalt secondary roads after county staff cited safety concerns and an engineering investigation; the engineer will continue evaluating specific segments for future 60‑mph consideration.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 3 to establish a maximum 55‑mile‑per‑hour speed limit on paved concrete and asphalt secondary roads following an engineering and traffic investigation.
The resolution, adopted by roll call vote (Keatley—aye; Byrnes—aye; Clark—aye) and filed as 26.272, cites Iowa Code Sections 321.285 and 321.255 and directs the county engineer to install appropriate traffic‑control devices and continue evaluating sight distance, curves and other factors. The resolution states that it “is to establish a maximum speed limit of 55‑mph and does not apply to paved road sections that are currently signed for speed limits less than 55‑mph.”
County Engineer Brian Ridenour and Sheriff Clark Mellick told the board that local hills, curves, farm equipment, Amish buggies and recreational vehicles make a 55‑mph cap the safer option for many county roads; Ridenour “provided a map of 10‑year accident history” for supervisory review. Ridenour also noted that maintaining 55 mph where adjacent counties may move to 60 mph will require additional signage at county lines.
The resolution also directs the engineer to keep evaluating whether raising specific paved segments to 60 mph would be feasible in the future after further study.
