Ask Mr. Answer Person: Why are there different speed limits on County B-16?

A decorahnews.com reader e-mails: ""I am wondering why the speed limit on Winneshiek County Rd B-16 (the blacktop from Protivin to Spillville) is only 50 miles per hour, but from Spillville to Highway 52 the same blacktop is marked 55 miles per hour."
 
Mr. Answer Person had no idea what the answer to this question was, so he turned to County Engineer Lee Bjerke, who responded: "The reason for the difference in speed on these two sections of road is not easy to answer.  The County Board sets all reduced speed limits in the county (from what is dictated by Iowa Code) based on an engineering study.  I cannot find a record of when the 50 MPH speed limit was established on the section of B16 west of Spillville, but it has been that way since before my employment with the county.  If you drive it, there are sections of B16 west of Spillville that have poor sight distances.  The corners would need to be improved if the road was rebuilt.  In addition, I know that there was a bad accident on one of the two hard turns towards the west end many many years ago (again, before my employment).

"Based on that information, I feel that this may be the reasoning for the reduced speed limit being placed on part of the road at some time in the past.  Also, keep in mind that the section of B16 east of Spillville used to be State Highway 325 until July of 2004.  The State of Iowa builds primary system roads to a higher standard than the county builds most secondary system roads.  The pavement on the east section is 24 feet wide versus 22 feet wide on the west section.  The east section has better sight distances, the ditches are wider with better slopes, and there are larger clear zones.  These factors do not warrant any reduction of speed."