Speed limits that were increased to 65 mph between Redmond and Madras and east of Bend before being dropped back to 55 mph will go up again next year if Oregon lawmakers don’t take action on the issue.

The speed limits across much of Eastern and Central Oregon, approved by the Legislature in 2015, rose in March last year to 65 mph along most of U.S. Highway 97 and on U.S. Highway 20 east of Bend, as well as several less traveled highways to the east.

Speed limits climbed to 70 mph on Interstate 84 and on U.S. Highway 95 in the state’s southeastern corner.

In all affected areas, speed limits for trucks and other commercial vehicles were also raised — to 60 mph in areas where passenger vehicles can travel 65 mph, and to 65 mph in places where passenger vehicles can drive 70 mph.

But that changed in June. An administrative order from the Oregon Department of Transportation reinstated the prior lower speed limits on U.S. Highway 97 between Madras and Redmond and on the six miles of U.S. Highway 20 immediately east of Bend. The order came three weeks after a crash on U.S. Highway 97 that killed four people south of Madras.

The administrative order also reduced speed limits on about one mile of U.S. Highway 97 south of La Pine, and on almost 12 miles of U.S. Highway 20 east of Vale.

Peter Murphy, spokesman for ODOT, said the administrative order was put in place to give his agency time to review whether the 65 mph limit adopted by the Legislature for these areas should remain, or whether the 55 mph limit adopted three months later should stay in place.

If ODOT or the Legislature take no action, the 65 mph speed limit would return July 1, 2018.

Although determining what kind of recommendation ODOT will make as July 2018 draws closer has not been determined, Murphy said it’s likely to be focused on the number and severity of crashes in the affected areas. Traffic volume, intersecting roads and driveways, lane and shoulder width and other factors would be considered as well, he said.

The 65 mph signs that went up with the speed limit change last spring and then came down are in storage and can be used to replace similar signs that have been damaged or lost, Murphy said.

Separately, Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, has proposed a bill this session that would amend the earlier speed limit increases, raising to 65 mph the limit along U.S. Highway 97 from the Washington state line to where Highway 97 meets state Highway 197.

Bentz said Friday his bill has been put on hold, pending additional outreach to ODOT, Oregon State Police and others. If adopted, Bentz’s bill would not have any effect on the temporary speed limits in place between Madras and Redmond and east of Bend.

— Reporter: 541-383-0387, shammers@bendbulletin.com