New Speed Limits On Hwy 42

Those driving in and out of Fort Peck have noticed updated speed limit signs on the Fort Peck Highway, specifically MT Highway 42 and 24, reducing the speed limit to 60 miles per hour. These new signs were placed over the summer due to a speed study that was requested by the Valley County Commissioners in 2021.

On March 17, 2021, Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer as well as the three Valley County Commissioners, John Fahlgren, Paul Tweten and Mary Armstrong, wrote a letter to Montana Department of Transportation District Administrator Shane Mintz explaining the concerns they had with the 70 miles per hour speed limit that was previously in place. The letter explained their concern was specifically between the south double-curve approach to the Milk River Bridge and the 45-mph sign near Sullivan Park. They asked Mintz for a speed study to review the segment of highway, which they believes should have a 55-mph speed limit, as they all traveled the route and that speed was most comfortable for them.

The letter also addressed concerns for the 70 mph speed limit including the high Fort Peck Lake recreational traffic on the segment, the fact that there are four major intersections in the stretch in addition to 16 individual approaches to the highway including two busy approaches to Valley Veterinary Clinic and two hazardous approaches to homes immediately north of the Milk River Bridge. It also expressed the fact that are no turning lanes at the Stockyards as the main two approaches are on curves and the sight distance is also limited. There are also no turning lanes at the Highway 24 junction, with sight distance for vehicles entering from Highway 24 across the railroad tracks being limited so a vehicle traveling 70 plus miles per hour around the corner north of the bridge must react quickly to a semi filling both lanes as they enter the highway. Another concern was the fact there have been three fatalities in the segment as well as it being high deer traffic area on both sides of the river bridge. These concerns had been brought up by citizens to the Commissioners multiple times from the public.

Speed studies typically take 9 to 12 months to complete, which allows time for data collection and a comment period before recommendations are presented to the Transportation Commission for action. In February of this year, the Commissioners wrote to the Montana Highway Commission stating the speed study was completed and the Commissioners support the recommended 60 miles per hour limit, with recommendation of signage to warn of truck traffic entering and leaving the Stockyards.