On Monday, May 19, the Battle Ground City Council approved an ordinance to set long-term speed limits for state Route 502 and state Route 503, two highways managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The vote follows months of debate and public concern after a series of serious crashes, including multiple fatalities, along the 502 corridor.
The ordinance establishes a future speed limit of 30 miles per hour on all of Highway 502 through the city and 40 miles per hour on Highway 503. These changes will not be implemented immediately. Instead, they will be introduced over time by WSDOT as road improvements and infrastructure developments lead to slower driving speeds.
State Route 502 runs 40 mph from 10th Avenue west to about Northwest 30th, where it jumps to 50 mph. Highway 503 runs at 55 mph in city limits…