Speed Limit Reduced on Stretch of Rochester Area Highway

Eyota, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has reduced the speed limit on a stretch of a highway in Olmsted County.

See Also: Cocaine-Eating Suspect Sent to Prison in Rochester Drug Case 

A MnDOT news release says officials made the decision to reduce the speed limit after an analysis from traffic engineers.

New speed limit signs are now in place along the impacted stretch of highway, MnDOT says.

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Speed Limit on Hwy. 42 Through Part of Eyota, MN Reduced to 50 MPH After Traffic Study

The speed limit on Hwy. 42 in Eyota has been reduced to 50 mph from the highway’s roundabout intersection with Hwy. 14 to the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Railroad tracks south of the roundabout.

The new 50 mph speed zone covers just under a mile of the highway. MnDOT says the review of the 60mph speed limit in the area was prompted by a request made by the City of Eyota.

Officials submitted the speed limit change recommendation to the Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner’s Office following the traffic analysis.

MnDOT’s news release indicates the traffic study also included the portion of Hwy. 42 south of the railroad crossing.

Officials chose to keep the 60 mph speed zone on the western side of Eyota from south of the tracks to the Interstate 90 interchange.

The study determined the limited access to the road, no curb and a lack of driveways and development on the city’s western side south of the tracks did not warrant a speed limit reduction, MnDOT says.

Eyota Mayor Tyrel Clark says the city pushed to have the 50 mph zone extended further south to the highway's intersection with Knowledge Rd. He says they are happy with getting a reduction where they got it.

Story updated to include comments from Eyota Mayor Tyrel Clark