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Air Force personnel and others who drive past Minot Air Force Base will have to slow down starting Thursday as the speed limit will be reduced from 70 mph to 55 mph, according to officials from the state's transportation department.

"The speed is being reduced around the base mainly because of the traffic that is entering and exiting the base and the speed differential between them and the through traffic," said Donovan Slag, a traffic engineer for the department. "I think most would agree that it's pretty close quarters out there."

Tim Redding, district traffic engineer, said a recent 16-hour traffic study conducted at the base revealed that there were more than 3,000 left turns at the Minot Gate, the main gate at MAFB, and 1,500 left turns at the base's Magic City Gate during that time period. Between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., the busiest time during the study, there were approximately 600 left turns at each gate to the base.

"For the number of vehicles that go through the area (each day) there have been very little accidents," he said. "With the new base personnel coming we ... are trying to make a positive change to maintain safety on the roads."

Anyone, especially Air Force personnel, trying to get on base in the morning knows how difficult it can be to gauge the distance and speed of a vehicle on the long, flat stretches of U.S. Highway 83 especially as winter approaches.

"People whiz by at 70 mph in the right and left lanes now and it's hard, but it's worse in the winter. Some people try to gun it in the winter and they lose traction, which leads to accidents," said Airman First Class Benjamin Stratton, who drives from his home in downtown Minot to the base daily. "I agree with the 55 mph, but that won't solve the whole problem. People need to learn how to drive (in inclement weather) and have respect for other drivers."

Although MAFB officials have not received any complaints about the speed limit, Laurie Arellano, chief of Public Affairs, said the leadership supports the decision to lower the speed limit.

"The base leadership is very supportive of any measures to improve the safety of people coming to the base," she said. "We have a lot of large vehicles that travel (on and near the base) so from the base perspective, we are very supportive of the decision to enhance the safety of drivers."

To further increase safety on the approximate two-mile stretch of road between MAFB's two gates, Redding said the department is contemplating some additional changes which could take place next year, but no decisions have been made.

As of now there are three options on the table. The first option is to increase signage in the area while the second is to install a permanent radar board to inform drivers of their speed. The last option being considered would create a buffer between the left-turning lanes and the through traffic by marking off the left lane beginning at the Magic City Gate.