City Council Requests Change In Speed Limit

Jaimie Schmitz
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One of the first items on the agenda at the Neligh City Council meeting on Tuesday evening was something that the council said is a matter of safety. 

The city is requesting that the Nebraska Department of Roads restudy the speed limit on Highway 275 right at Bomgaars. 

As of right now, the speed limit is 65 mph and then goes down to 45 mph east of Bomgaars. By making the speed limit 45 mph sooner rather than later, they hope to help with slowing down at Bomgaars. 

“It would be a slower breakdown instead of hammering all at once,” Mayor Joe Hartz said. 

The majority of Highway 275 has a speed limit of 65, but in city limits, it changes. 

“If it goes from 65 to 45, it’s no different than Tilden or Meadow Grove because theirs drops 20 mph,” Leonard Miller said. 

“Theirs is a shorter distance too.We have quite an expansive territory,” Hartz added. 

The city stated that safety and business concerns were their main priority. 

The proposed resolution states “the speed at such location should be reduced to 45 miles per hour to facilitate the business customers entering and leaving Bomgaars and to reduce the potential for motor vehicle accidents at such location.” 

The farm, ranch and personal clothing store generate a business and has vehicle traffic going into and out of the store. 

Also, there is no turning lane into the store parking lot making vehicles slow down to turn. 
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“I think they need something to help,” Hartz said. “I don’t know if it will with the decision, but at least they have an idea that we have some feelings about safety here as a city.”