The Oregon Department of Transportation announced temporary speed reduction zones on portions of U.S. 97 and U.S. 20 near Madras, Terrebonne, La Pine and each of Bend. ODOT made the decision to reduce speed limits in limited areas after several Oregon lawmakers asked the Department to review the safety of highways after speeds were increased in March, and after engineering analyses and a review of crash data were performed.
“I appreciate ODOT’s willingness to act on the concerns of Oregonians to make sure that our roads are safe for travelers,” said Representative John Huffman (R-The Dalles), who asked Paul Mather, ODOT’s highway administrator, to look into whether safety adjustments could be made. “It’s imperative that we find the right balance between appropriate highway speeds and what is safe for drivers, and today’s actions by ODOT do just that. These speed reductions, while in very limited areas, will hopefully go a long way toward making our roads safer for travel.”
The four segments where ODOT is reducing the speed limit to 55 from 65 are:
- U.S. 97 from Madras to Terrebonne (about 16.5 miles)
- U.S. 97 at the La Pine south city limit (1 mile)
- U.S. 20 from the Bend east city limit to Dodds Road (6 miles)
- U.S. 20 from vale to Cairo Junction (about 11.5 miles)
ODOT reduced the speed limits through a temporary speed zone order, which lasts for one year. ODOT has committed to continuing to monitor traffic activity in the affected areas and will make permanent recommendations to the State Speed Zone Review Panel at a future date.
