Speed limit decrease anticipated with pathway construction

Electric City is anticipating building a pathway this year connecting the Coulee Playland area to Banks Lake Park by North Dam and to implement an 800-yard speed limit decrease in the same area.

Construction of the pathway, anticipated to be done this summer, will likely reduce the current 45 miles per hour speed limit zone to 35 for about 800 yards. 

The pathway would narrow the roadway to an extent, and the path alongside it would require the speed limit change.

Last year The Star conducted a poll asking how people felt about the speed limit dropping from 45 miles per hour to 30 mph between Electric City and Grand Coulee with the construction of the pathway. 

However, that poll did not take into account that the pathway would narrow the roadway, requiring the speed limit change. 

Also, as plans for the project have developed, the idea of lowering the speed limit the entire stretch seems to be done. 

Steve Nelson of Century West Engineering, Electric City’s engineering firm, told The Star Tuesday that the stretch from North Dam Park to Four Corners would most likely remain at 45 mph.

Some people wanted a consistent 30 mph speed limit from Electric City down to Coulee Dam in order to legally drive ATVs down the highway, but that idea is apparently also done.

Currently the speed limit through the town of Electric City is 35 mph, then changing from 45 mph from Coulee Playland all the way to the Four Corners area of Grand Coulee, where the speed limit drops to 30 mph.

According to Nelson, with the path, the speed limit would continue to be 35 mph past Coulee Playland all the way to the North Dam.

This would reduce the 45-mph zone by approximately 2,400 feet.

From North Dam Park to Four Corners will remain at 45 mph. 

Electric City is planning an open house-style meeting at the American Legion Hall for Feb. 24 with this issue, among other topics, to be open for discussion between the public and city officials.