January 2016
ODOT Winter Road Guide
Page 3
Speed limits change March 1
on select Oregon highways
Smart signs coming to Eastern Oregon
Technology and automation are changing
how we drive and plan travel. It wasn’t long
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get around on unfamiliar roads was to look
at a map or ask for directions. Now, your
smartphone or the GPS navigation device
in your car prompts you with turn- by-turn
directions, along with that annoying
“recalculating” statement when you’ve
taken a wrong turn.
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related technology is improved
highway safety. A future where vehicles
communicate with each other and use
sensors to navigate without a driver is
just around the corner. Experts forecast
automated, driver-assisted vehicles being
tested now will be available to consumers
by the end of the decade. Other technology-
driven safety improvements are happening
now, such as ODOT’s Variable Speed Limit
(VSL) Sign projects in eastern Oregon.
Smart Signs
“The idea behind variable speed limit
signs is to warn motorists well ahead of
hazardous road conditions and get them to
slow down before they enter a potentially
dangerous situation,” said ODOT Project
Leader Ken Patterson.
Two variable speed limit sign projects
are planned along Interstate 84 that will
install a series of digital speed signs within
a given corridor of freeway. The smart
signs will use weather and speed sensors,
plus other communication devices to
automatically lower the speed limit when
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slowed or stopped due to a crash, or when
severe weather conditions require everyone
to lower their speed.
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constructed between Baker City and North
Powder in 2016. This area has a history
of unique weather patterns because of its
location between the Elkhorn and Wallowa
Mountains. Microclimates create icy
conditions along this stretch at times when
other parts of the freeway are dry. This
hazardous condition can catch motorists
off-guard, resulting in hard breaking and
sliding on icy roads. Construction on this
Baker Valley speed limit sign project is
expected to begin in time for the new
system to be up and running before next
winter.
The second VSL sign project will be
constructed along I-84 near Meacham
between La Grande and Pendleton around
2018. This mountain pass area is known for
severe winter weather, dense fog and other
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in crashes when vehicles are traveling too
fast for conditions.
“The goal of these projects is to reduce
the number and severity of crashes in
known trouble spots,” said Patterson. “It
will save lives and limit the amount of
time the freeway is closed due to a crash or
severe weather conditions.”
Motorists traveling on some state
highways in central and eastern Oregon
will see a change next spring due to Oregon
House Bill 3402. The bill enacted by the
2015 legislation raises the speed limit on
Interstate 84 and some other routes east
of the Cascades. The new law takes effect
March 1, 2016, and will raise legal speeds to
70 mph for passenger vehicles and 65 mph
for commercial trucks on I-84 between the
Idaho border and The Dalles. These same
speed limits will apply for U.S. 95 that
runs through southeast Oregon between the
Nevada and Idaho borders.
In addition, sections of eight other
highways will have speed limits increased to
65 mph for passenger vehicles and 60 mph
for trucks. These include portions of U.S. 20,
U.S. 26, U.S. 97, U.S. 197, U.S. 395, OR 31,
OR 78, and OR 205.
The new speed limits will more closely
match those of neighboring states.
More information, including a map
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will see the changes, a copy of HB 3402,
update news and information, plus links to
related photos and video is available at www.
tinyurl.com/OR-speed2016.
The current speed limits on I-84 are 65
mph for passenger vehicles and 55 mph for
commercial trucks. These limits will not
change for the section of interstate west of
The Dalles.
The current speed limit for other state
and U.S. routes (non-interstate) is typically
55 mph for all vehicles, unless posted
otherwise.
Prior to March 1, 2016, travelers
may see some highway work needed to
support the speed limit change: including
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higher legal speed; new sign posts installed
to accommodate new, larger signs; new or
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minor changes.
The new signs are expected to be
installed on I-84 by March 1 and on
secondary highways as quickly as possible
to accommodate the March 1 effective date.
Motorists are reminded to obey all speed
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and to adjust travel when weather, road
conditions or other situations require extra
caution.
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Ryan Jokinen, Steve Hansell, Max Driskell, Kathy Schmidtgall,
Jeremy Hascall, Kris Thieme, Owner
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