The days of 50-mile-an-hour speed limits on parts of State Routes 161 and 7 are coming to an end. Ditto for a 35-mile-an-hour zone on another portion of 161. The changes, brought on by concerns about safety, are taking effect this week, according to the state Department of Transportation (DOT). Drivers will find a reduced speed limit on a nearly two-mile section of SR-161 in Eatonville. From south of Mashel River Bridge to Alder Street East, the new limit will be 30 miles per hour. It was 35. And on SR-161 from north of Mashell Avenue South to north of Orville Road East, the previous speed limit of 50 miles per hour will be reduced to 40. New speed limit signs are scheduled to be installed by Jan. 21, according to DOT. Meanwhile, on State Route 7, DOT planned to begin posting lower speed limits Jan. 20 on a four-mile stretch of the highway that runs through Alder and La Grande. The new limit will be 45 mph where it previously was 50. The permanent reduction affects SR-7 between Alder Cutoff Road and State Route 161. DOT officials said the lower speed limits are the result of a traffic study conducted by the state agency and will be enforceable as soon as new signs are up. The changes involving SR-161 also were in response to "safety concerns from the local community," a DOT spokesman said.
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