New Law Means Oakland County Communities Can Lower The Speed Limit For Gravel Roads

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Do you know the speed limit for gravel roads? It's 55 miles per hour (mph). But ease the gas pedal, because it could drop to 45 mph under a new package of bills Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law on Jan. 4, according to a press release.

The new law gives townships and villages in counties with a population greater than 1 million the opportunity to request the county road commission drop the 55 mph speed limit on gravel roads down to 45 mph and post signs announcing the speed limit. Currently, there aren't speed limit signs on gravel roads.

“In accordance with the new law, if a township supervisor or village manager asks us to lower the speed limit on an unposted gravel road to 45, we will review the situation and discuss it with the supervisor or manager. If, after the discussion, both parties still believe the change is appropriate, the process will move forward, so long as the township or village is willing to pay for the cost of installing the new speed limit signs,” Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) Managing Director Dennis Kolar said in a statement.

The new law also affords communities the ability to request speed limits even lower than 45 mph on gravel roads. However, in those cases the Michigan State Police must conduct speed studies to determine if lowering the speed limit is justified before approving the change.

If communities decide to lower the speed limit for gravel roads and post signs - whether it's 45 mph or lower -then it'll cost a pretty penny. The cost to make the signs and have crews install sign posts and signs ranges from $1,000 and $1,400 per mile.

Photo courtesy of the Road Commission for Oakland County