Texas posting 85 mph limits

[deathtopumpkins]

Don't think this has popped up on here yet...
http://www.dallasnews.com/incoming/20120607-texas-considers-85-mph-speed-limit-on-toll-road.ece

Apparently TxDOT is planning to post an 85 mph speed limit on a new section of SH 130 between Austin and Seguin.

[NE2]

I hope they do it on Spur 366.

[Alps]

I hope they do it on Spur 366.

I searched for the Like or +1 button.

[SP Cook]

Great news.  Safe and fast, with police diverted to actual work.

[Sanctimoniously]

I hope they do it on Spur 366.

I searched for the Like or +1 button.

Or the heartclick.

[codyg1985]

I actually think that if toll roads allowed for higher speeds than interstates, such as this one, then it would make people warm up to toll roads more. I would be willing to pay a little bit to be able to drive faster.

Then again, building a road with a higher design speed would cost more, too.

[austrini]

I drove SH 130 on Friday, and it was still 80 mph. One thing I noticed is that I almost kept hitting birds, and ended up driving over a few dead pigeons or mockingbirds or something. I wonder if they cant get out of the way fast enough.

[bugo]

I actually think that if toll roads allowed for higher speeds than interstates, such as this one, then it would make people warm up to toll roads more. I would be willing to pay a little bit to be able to drive faster.

This is the policy of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.  Speed limits on turnpikes are 75 while they're 70 on interstates.

Then again, building a road with a higher design speed would cost more, too.

Most of the Oklahoma turnpikes are built to early '50s standards.  I have no idea what the design speed is (does anybody know?) but I would guess it's not much more than 75, especially on the Turner Turnpike.

[Alex]

I actually think that if toll roads allowed for higher speeds than interstates, such as this one, then it would make people warm up to toll roads more. I would be willing to pay a little bit to be able to drive faster.

This is the policy of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.  Speed limits on turnpikes are 75 while they're 70 on interstates.

Then again, building a road with a higher design speed would cost more, too.

Most of the Oklahoma turnpikes are built to early '50s standards.  I have no idea what the design speed is (does anybody know?) but I would guess it's not much more than 75, especially on the Turner Turnpike.

The 75 mph speed limit on the Oklahoma Turnpikes, at the least the I-44 ones in which I have rode, are easily doable because of the long distances between exits and long straight aways.

I agree with Cody on the point that, if toll roads allowed for higher speed limits, it would add to their appeal and perhaps their draw. There should be a perk for choosing the toll road over the free alternative such as the case for SH 130.

As for Justin's comment about hitting birds, nowhere else have I been where the birds fly so stupidly low than in Texas (especially west Texas). With 70 mph speed limits on two lane FM and RM roads, we came close to hitting them at least 100 times over in May.

[rte66man]

Most of the Oklahoma turnpikes are built to early '50s standards.  I have no idea what the design speed is (does anybody know?) but I would guess it's not much more than 75, especially on the Turner Turnpike.

???? Only the Turner and Will Rogers were built in the 50's. The next pike was the HE Bailey, which didn't open until 64/65.  Indian Nation from Henryetta to McAlester around 68 with the rest in the 70's. Cimarron in the 70's IIRC.  The others were built in the 90's.

The dirt berms in the median of the Turner and Rogers as well as most of the Bailey were replaced with full Jersey barriers.  No sharp curves on any of those. 80 would be reasonable as most people drive that speed anyway.

rte66man

[bugo]

Most of the Oklahoma turnpikes are built to early '50s standards.  I have no idea what the design speed is (does anybody know?) but I would guess it's not much more than 75, especially on the Turner Turnpike.

???? Only the Turner and Will Rogers were built in the 50's. The next pike was the HE Bailey, which didn't open until 64/65.  Indian Nation from Henryetta to McAlester around 68 with the rest in the 70's. Cimarron in the 70's IIRC.  The others were built in the 90's.

They were built in the '60s and '70s, but they used early '50s design standards.  They never bothered to update them until they built the Cherokee and the urban loop turnpikes.  That's why the turnpikes are built on one carriageway, and are so narrow.  The Turner is especially bad as it has lots of small hills and there's a lot of truck traffic.