Egan Drive speed limit in Juneau will drop to 45 mph from Nov. 1 through Jan. 31

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities will lower the speed limit on Egan Drive between Sunny Point and Mendenhall Loop Road from 55 mph to 45 mph starting Nov. 1, the department announced Wednesday. The lower limit stays in effect through Jan. 31.

The seasonal reduction is taking effect again this winter. The department picked the window because historical crash data show the most crashes near the Egan Drive and Fred Meyer area during those months. "The seasonal window also aligns with darker winter conditions, when reduced speeds can help lower crash severity and provide additional driver reaction time," the department said in its Feb. 18 virtual public meeting questions and answers. Department traffic data show more than half of crashes at the Egan Drive and Yandukin intersection from 2005 to 2017 happened in November, December and January.

The department describes the lower limit as an interim step it could deliver quickly and at lower cost, meant to stay in place until a more permanent fix, such as a traffic signal, is installed.

In Wednesday's announcement, the department said that since the improvements there haven't been any crashes resulting in significant injuries at the intersection. It asked drivers to follow posted limits and stay alert in the dark.

The intersection carries 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles a day, and the department projects traffic there will grow by about 8,000 vehicles a day. Alaska News reported July 12 on the $12.1 million federal grant awarded for signals, protected left turns and signalized pedestrian crossings at the intersection. The department says major improvements are planned for 2027.