Big Mountain Road speed limit increased

Antsy powder hounds can now legally get to the chair lifts on Big Mountain a little bit quicker. The speed limit on Big Mountain Road was recently increased to 40 miles per hour, a considerable bump up from the previous speed limit of 25 mph that had long frustrated commuters.

Flathead County Commissioners approved the new speed limit in March and the change went into effect last month.

Both commuters and county officials had asked the Montana Department of Transportation for an increased speed limit. It was noted that the 25 mph limit on the new roadway was too restrictive and that it could be a safety concern with speed differentials. A portion of Big Mountain Road was reconstructed in 2008 to be between 36 and 39 feet wide with 7-foot shoulders.

DOT traffic engineer James Freyholtz studied the road and found that most vehicles traveled well over the posted 25 mph limit. His report showed the average speed on the road to be about 50 mph between mile posts five and six. Most vehicles slowed to about 35 mph between mile posts three and four, and again near the resort’s village.

His study also found there were 30 crashes reported on Big Mountain Road during a three-year period between 2008 and 2011. Most of the accidents were single off-road crashes into a fixed object.

The study concluded that 25 mph was “inappropriate for actual operation.”

Based on the average speed recorded during his study, Freyholtz recommended the speed limit be increased to 40 mph. The speed limit drops back to 25 mph when approaching the resort village.