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The speed limit reduction affects only the southbound stretch of U.S. 101 from Crosby Boulevard – the exit where the Olympia Auto Mall is located – to the Interstate 5 interchange. Washington State Patrol Trooper Guy Gill said Tuesday that the speed limit reduction was requested by the patrol to reduce the high number of collisions there and to make the roadway safer.
“This all boils down to public safety,” Gill said Tuesday. “We believe that lowering the speed limit there is going to reduce collisions and that’s our goal”
Over the past year, there have been 134 collisions in the area of Milepost 367 on U.S. 101, Gill said.
John Nisbet, the State Department of Transportation’s traffic engineer, made the final decision to lower the speed limit, according to a DOT spokeswoman.
Gill said the new speed limit signs are “very well marked,” with orange coloring and reflective materials so they will be visible at night. “Nobody’s going to have any problems seeing those signs,” he said.
He added that he has received some complaints from people who do not think the speed limit reduction is necessary, but many others are supportive of the change and believe “this has been a long time coming.”
State Patrol will be “using the minimum amount of enforcement necessary” over a 30-day grace period. In general, troopers will enforce the speed limit change with a verbal warning over the next 30 days, Gill said.
However, excessive speeds still will get a ticket. Also, a driver who causes a collision on that stretch while driving faster than 45 miles per hour can expect to receive a traffic infraction, he added.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5445 jpawloski@theolympian.com
