State rep wants to let drivers move faster

CHICKALOON — A Valley representative is prodding the state Department of Transportation to increase the speed limit on an eastern stretch of the Glenn Highway.

From Hicks Creek at Mile 92 to Glennallen, the highway is straight and wide enough that Rep. Eric Feige, R-Chickaloon says it makes sense to bump the speed limit from 55 to 65 mph.

“I have traveled the highway many times in the last three years and have wondered why the speed limit was 55 mph when other similar roads have a 65 mph limit. At the request of several constituents, I asked DOT&PF to review the speed limit,” Feige wrote in a press release.

“Primarily constituents in Glennallen who travel to Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage have expressed some concerns about why was the speed limit so low on the road,” Feige staffer Mike Paschall said.

Things like changing the speed limit on a portion of a highway aren’t the sorts of things accomplished by the Legislature, and they’re not accomplished overnight.

“It takes more than just changing the speed limit signs. Each curve and passing zone has to be evaluated to see if the lane markings and signs need to be changed. Approaches to the road at intersections and driveways also have to be evaluated to see if additional warning signs are needed,” Feige says in his press release.

Paschall noted that, for instance, in passing zones there’s a certain amount of visibility required, and there’s more visibility required for faster roads. So a passing zone on a 55 mph highway might not work on a 65 mph highway.

Paschall said that this summer DOT did a speed survey. But they haven’t released that data yet.

He said Feige’s office has gotten hold of traffic citation records and it looks like there are a lot of people getting tickets at 64 mph, which he said tells him that troopers are using discretion, knocking down tickets for people driving faster than that to give them a break.

DOT is now seeking proposals from engineering firms that want to take a crack at studying what needs to be changed to raise the speed limit.

“It will still take the department another year or so to complete the speed limit work and some of the major projects along the Glenn are still several years off, but I am committed to work toward improvements to our highways,” Feige says in the press release.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.