Skyline Drive, Caffrey Road speed limits raised

Lake County officials passed a resolution last week that will increase the speed limit on two county roads.

On Wednesday, Oct. 10, Lake County commissioners passed a resolution to raise the speed limit on portions of Skyline Drive and Caffrey Road by 10 mph up to 45 mph during a public meeting.

Commission Chairman Gale Decker and Commissioner Bill Barron were present, while Commissioner Dave Stipe was offsite at another meeting.

The section of Skyline Drive below the canal to the intersection of Caffrey Road, and Caffrey Road to U.S. Highway 93 will see the increase effective Nov. 1. The limit had been 35 mph.

During the hearing, Decker explained that originally, officials discussed increasing the speed limit from 35 mph on North Reservoir Road from Skyline Drive to U.S. Highway 93, but omitted that portion of roadway.

The road, he said, isn’t conducive to higher-speed traffic, and the types of vehicles that travel that section of the road — various trucks and vehicles with trailers — go to the county transfer station at 36117 N. Reservoir Road.

From Monday, Sept. 17 through Monday, Sept. 24, the Lake County Roads Department conducted a speed study on Skyline Drive to Caffrey Road, and Caffrey Road to U.S. Highway 93. The study, provided by County Road Supervisor Jay Garrick, included statistics Decker shared.

According to the data collected during the study, the 85th percentile of motorists on that stretch of road drove at a speed of 46 mph.

Traffic on Skyline Road between Caffrey Road and North Reservoir Road saw about 615 vehicles per day, which brings the average to about 4,300 vehicles during that week.

The maximum speed recorded was one vehicle at 84 mph, and while the minimum was 6 mph.

Decker stated that about 41 percent of motorists recorded in the study drove at or below the current speed limit.