Many northern residents rang in the New Year receiving speeding tickets. But there are several areas around the island with different speed limits for both northbound and southbound traffic - simultaneously - causing much confusion for some motorists.


Have you traveled up north lately? Aside from residents who live in Yigo, passersby may not notice that the northbound and southbound lanes are different speed limits. Northbound traffic from Ace Hardware in Yigo to the Yigo Fire Station is posted at 45 miles per hour, while traffic going to opposite direction in front of Yigo Mart down towards Ace Hardware in is posted at 35 MPH. Yigo mayor Robert Lizama says although the police chief has the authority to determine speed limits around the island, it causes great confusion to motorists traveling through the village.


He told KUAM News, "A lot of the people are more versed with Route 1 being 45 MPH and with that, they travel 45 MPH, which is 10 MPH above the 35 MPH zone. So with that they get trapped with these speed checks that are happening out on Route 1." Guam Police Department acting chief Paul Suba says the reason for the difference in the northbound and southbound speed limits is to assist commuters, saying such was established, "Since there is less residential area or business establishments to the right...and that means there is no need to have a reduction in speed because of the possibility of cars coming in and out."


Suba says motorists should also take precautions when traveling along several other routes around the island. He says northbound traffic on Route 8 traveling through Mongmong-Toto-Maite is posted at 35 MPH, while southbound traffic is posted at 45 MPH until commuters reach the First Hawaiian Bank area where the speed limit drops to 35 MPH. "By the Jose Rios or the Veterans Cemetery toward Polaris Point and then just beyond Polaris Point," Suba explained, "It's reduced to 35 because of a sharp curve near the Varsity Club area. That stays at 35 all the way through Naval Station."


Suba says northbound from Naval Station to Polaris Point is a 35 mile per hour zone, with the maximum speed increasing to 45 MPH from Polaris Point to the Veterans Cemetery intersection before dropping to 35, and then to 25 as motorists head north before the Dead Man's Curve outside Adelup.


Mayor Lizama on the other hand says it would be nice to have traffic going through his village posted at 35 MPH to ensure there is no confusion amongst motorists. But in the meantime Suba says it's the responsibility of the motorists to be aware of posted speed limits throughout the island.