MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) — Where will the speed limit go up to 70 miles per hour? So far, the Department of Transportation has decided to raise the limit on several limited access highways. They are still evaluating some other stretches of highway.
One central Wisconsin stretch of I-39 not on the list is between the Highway 54 interchange in Plover and the Highway 66 north next to the Stevens Point airport. The busy Highway 66 south & 10 east interchange is in that stretch of highway. DOT officials have not indicated if they are finished studying that part of the road, or if traffic is too heavy to allow the higher speeds.
As predicted, Highway 29 has at-grade intersections throughout must of Wisconsin, and will not have the speed increased beyond 65 miles per hour.
Here are the DOT Rural Interstate segments in Wisconsin where speed limits will be raised to 70 mph:
I-94 from the Illinois line to the Milwaukee County line
I-94 from I-39/90 in Dane County to Wisconsin Highway 64 in Waukesha County
1-39/90 from the Illinois line to U.S. 12 in Dane County
I-39/90/94 from U.S. 151 in Dane County to the I-39 split in Columbia County, near Portage.
I-39 from the I-90/94 split near Portage in Columbia County to Wisconsin Highway 54 at Plover in Portage County
I-39 from Highway 66 north/Stanley Street Stevens Point to Business Highway 51 in Marathon County (The Rothschild/Cedar Creek exit)
I-90/94 from the I-39 split near Portage in Columbia County to Tomah, and beyond. I-90 will stay at 70 MPH until Highway 53 in La Crosse County. I-94 will stay at 70 MPH to the Highway 53 exit in Eau Claire County.
I-94 from the Wisconsin 312 exit on Eau Claire’s west side to Wisconsin Highway 35 in St. Croix County near Hudson
I-43 from County Highway T in Ozaukee County to Wisconsin Highway 29 in Brown County in Green Bay
I-43 from I-39 near the Illinois line to Wisconsin Highway 164 in Waukesha County
I-41 from the SOUTH Washington County line to Wisconsin Highway 441 & U.S. 10 in Winnebago County at Appleton
I-41 from Highway 441 on Appleton’s north side to Wisconsin Highway 172 in Brown County near Green Bay
Along with rural Interstates, the recently-approved state legislation provides WisDOT the authority to increase the speed limit to 70 mph along certain multi-lane highways with access limited to interchanges. The department is still reviewing freeway segments to consider for posting at 70 mph.
Here’s a brief history of speed limits in Wisconsin:
- · Prior to 1947, it was unlawful to operate a vehicle “carelessly and heedlessly” with “wanton disregard” of the safety of others.
- · In 1949, state law specified a 65 mph speed limit during daytime hours, 55 mph at night, and 45 mph for trucks.
- · In 1962, as more of the Interstate system was completed, speed limits on Interstate highways were set at 70 mph during daylight hours, 60 mph at night and 55 mph for trucks.
- · In 1973, as an energy conservation measure, the U.S. Congress adopted a national maximum speed limit of 55 mph.
- · In 1987, Congress allowed states to adopt a 65 mph speed limit on rural Interstates.
- · In 1996, state law extended the 65 mph speed limit to certain freeways and expressways.
