Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
Photo – Speed Limit sign – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
County officials are considering lowering the speed limit on all unpaved roads.
During yesterday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz said state law sets the speed limit on gravel roads at 55 miles per hour and asked to lower it to 45. Fritz said adopting a county‑wide limit would save money on signage.
Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz added that allowable speeds would depend on conditions and adjacent surroundings. Without a study by the Wyoming Technology Transfer Center, Fritz said the county is unable to legally lower the speed limit beyond 35 miles per hour.
Commissioner John Espy said Sweetwater County set a 45 mile per hour limit on all unpaved roads last spring. Commissioner Espy agreed that 55 miles an hour is too fast for the majority of the county’s gravel and dirt roads.
Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz presented a resolution for the Board’s approval to set the speed limit on all unpaved county roads at 45 miles per hour. Roads already marked with lower limits would remain unchanged. While state statute requires a speed index survey to reduce speeds below 35, some sections are already posted lower, mainly where county roads pass close to homes.
Without the legally required studies, Commissioner John Espy said the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office cannot issue citations to drivers who exceed the posted limit. The commissioner added that he expects most drivers to slow down regardless.
The Board expressed their approval of the resolution and called for a 45‑day public comment period. Feedback will be used to determine what, if any, other county roads should be exempt from the proposed speed limit.
