ROCK SPRINGS – Speed limits along Yellowstone Road will again go down this July as the Rock Springs City Council unanimously approved the request. The temporary reduction will be during the National High School Finals Rodeo.

The speed limit changes will take effect July 11 and will run until July 19 at midnight. For the past couple of years, the speed limits have been reduced during the rodeo as a safety precaution. The traffic plan is very similar to what is put in place during the Sweetwater County Fair.

The changes include dropping the speed limit to 45 mph on Yellowstone near Hillcrest Drive. Also on Yellowstone, approximately 300 ft south of Front Nine Drive, will drop to 35 mph. The last changes will be near the radio station, and near Signal Drive as both will be reduced to 35 mph.

Along with lower speed limits, temporary signage was also approved to remind folks of the reductions. They will be placed 200 feet south of Back Nine Drive, near the radio station, near the John Deere Facility and Front Nine Drive.

In 2012, the Rock Springs City Council first adopted reduced speed limits along Yellowstone Road for the duration of the 2012 National High School Finals Rodeo. Rock Springs Police Sgt. Ken Lorimer said reviews of the reduction have been done. The review determined the reduced speed limits and increased traffic enforcement had the desired impact while having minimal negative impact on residents and businesses living and operating in the area.

The only change in the 2015 NHSFR Traffic Plan Request from earlier years’ plans is the removal of language involving Wyoming Highway Patrol placing a speed trailer on Yellowstone Road. In his request, Lorimer reported this obligation has proven problematic for the WHP to meet, and the plan has achieved its objectives in the past without that equipment.

While reviews have been done, the reduction of speed limits during the NHSFR came from 2010 when the event was in Gillette. One of the lessons learned from the 2010 Rodeo was that reduced speed limits for such an event were a good idea resulting in fewer accidents.

“A reduced speed zone for the duration of the 2015 National High School Finals Rodeo will likely result in a smooth flow of traffic through the area of the Events Complex without unduly interfering with traffic traversing the area as well as reduce crashes and traffic-related injuries,” Lorimer explained,

According to the RSPD study, the area of the reduced speed is approximately 1/3 miles long. Traversing the entire length of Yellowstone Road with the reduced speed limit will add approximately 26 seconds of travel time. Reducing the temporary speed limit to 30 mph will add around one minute to the total travel time but might result in a backup of traffic on Yellowstone Road.

There are also several additional actions anticipated. The RSPD (through the Rock Springs Streets Department} and the WHP (through the WYDOT) may place traffic cones/candlestick lane markers along Yellowstone Road adjacent to the Event Complex. The placement of markers would be at the discretion of the Chief of Police,

There is another anticipated action of which residents should be aware. The RSPD Traffic Enforcement along with WHP patrols will be aggressively and visibly enforcing the reduced speed limit area for the first two to three days of the event.  The enforcement is to gain maximum compliance with the reduced speed zones for the bulk of the duration of the event.

To wrap up his request, Lorimer said in visiting with Rock Springs Streets Department Supervisor Jon Lesko he believes much of the suggested signage for the event can come from existing stocks and inventory, requiring limited outside purchases. He explained this will allow for an enforceable reduced speed zone to be put in place to help guarantee the safety of guests and visitors to the community without any significant outside expenses being incurred.