State says no speed limit change needed in Happy's Inn area

Motorists traversing two Lincoln County highways may see some minor changes in the future following studies by the state.

Concerns from residents prompted county officials to ask the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to conduct speed studies on Montana 37 and U.S. 2 in the Happy’s Inn area.

At the April 26 county commission meeting, MDT District Traffic Engineer Rebecca Franke presented the results of the studies and possible changes the agency is proposing.

Following their studies and analysis, the state didn’t recommend any change in the speed limit in the Happy’s Inn area. But it did think that extending 35 mile per hour and 45 mph zones in some places on Montana 37 were good ideas.

On the heels of new subdivisions, business growth and recreational traffic in the Happy’s Inn area, some county residents, officials and the Fisher River Fire Rescue Department thought reducing the speed limit from 70 miles per hour to 45 was a way to increase traffic safety.

Franke’s report indicated the agency studied two 2-mile sections east and west of Happy’s Inn.

For the section of the 86-year-old byway there is a 1.2 mile passing zone east of Happy’s and a one-half mile passing zone west of it. Passing is not allowed in the Happy’s area.

According to Franke’s report, there was a 6.1% drop in traffic volume between 2017 and 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic helped result in a 3.6% drop in traffic in 2020 while 2021 showed a 7% increase. In 2021, the average annual daily traffic volume was 1,410 vehicles.

Not surprisingly, average traffic volumes increased 17% during summer months.

The state also analyzed accident figures and traffic citations issued in the area.

From Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2020, there were 11 crashes in the study area. Two were suspected of having serious injuries, one with minor injury and eight with no apparent injuries.

Wild animal related crashes were the most common with a total of eight. Four occurred during adverse road conditions, which include ice/frost, wet or slush. Eight occurred at night. One crash occurred at the approach for Happy’s Inn.

In the same three-year time period, Montana Highway Patrol made 36 traffic stops and issued 41 citations, according to MDT figures. Most of the citations, 30 of 41 or 73%, were for speeding in the study area. Four citations were written in the Happy’s Inn area near milepost 72. In the area between mileposts 73 and 74, there were 17 speeding citations written.

Commissioner Brent Teske thinks lowering the speed limit in the Happy’s area is being proactive.

“I know we’ll receive a lot of comments about this. Does common sense ever trump the study?” Teske said.

Franke said that when speed limit changes are forced, accidents actually increase.

In the Montana 37 study, which begins at the intersection of U.S. 2 in Libby and ends at Libby Dam, shows average annual daily traffic volume in 2021 range from 6,300 vehicles north of the Kootenai River Bridge in Libby to about 460 vehicles near Libby Dam.

In the last five years, there has been an average increase in traffic volume of 14%. Traffic volumes were 30% higher in summer months. The segment between Fisher River Road and Jennings Hiline Drive had a 58% increase between 2017 and 2021.

There were 27 traffic crashes between Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2020. Eighteen had no apparent injuries while four had suspected serious injuries. A total of five had either possible or minor injuries. Thirteen crashes involved wild animals and eight involved adverse road conditions.

Fourteen crashes occurred in the first 3.5 miles of roadway.

Montana Highway Patrol made 31 traffic stops in the three-year timeframe and wrote 35 citations, 18 of which were for speeding. All the speeding tickets occurred between milepost 0 and 12.5 with clusters at 8.7, 10 and 12 and the bulk of them in the 70 mph zone.

While the rural environment sections of Montana 37 do not adhere to current design standards, which indicate the road and shoulders should be wider, low traffic volumes don’t dictate it.

State officials do recommend extending 35 mph and 45 mph special speed zones to at least 1,600 feet to provide better transitional speed zones.

The department is still accepting public comment on both studies. Comments may be sent to the Lincoln County Commissioners at 512 California Ave., Libby MT 59923. Comments may also be emailed to bteske@libby.org, jhammons@libby.org or jletcher@libby.org.

Teske said the commission would accept comments received by June 22 before forwarding them to MDT.